Blackburn students inspired by local entrepreneurs

To mark the start of Global Entrepreneurship Week, Blackburn College students heard stories and advice from a group of high-achieving local businesses.

The Meet the Entrepreneurs event welcomed Dominic McGregor; Katy Leeson; Jacob Knowles; Tom Havlin; Adam Soliman; Alyco Mohammad; Sahina Ibrahim and Gabriella Marsden.

Dominic McGregor, co-founded Social Chain, one of the fastest growing social media publishing houses and social marketing agencies in the world, and Katy Leeson, the company’s operations director officer.

Jacob Knowles, co-founder and Business Director of the Empine Group, who has been recognised as a leading young entrepreneur by Peter Jones of Dragon’s Den and has been awarded with his business partner Anthony Taylor, ‘North West Young Entrepreneurs of the Year’ in the FSB World Pay Awards 2017.

Tom Havlin, founder of GetStaffed, has been voted one of the Top 4 Young Entrepreneurs in Lancashire; Adam Soliman who founded Charbrew and the Silk Route Spice Company and now exports worldwide; Alyco Mohammed who is a motivational speaker and an active volunteer with Blackburn Youth Zone; Sahina Ibrahim, whose fragrance brand ‘NUHR’ is designed, developed and manufactured in Blackburn, and is sold worldwide, including 59 UK ASDA stores.

Gabriella Marsden, who is currently studying BA (Hons) Business at the University Centre at Blackburn College, also spoke to students about her running and setting up her business, Frankie’s Threads.

The event was supported by KPMG and the Hive Business School, and local schools were invited to join the session, with pupils from Blackburn Central High School and Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School attending.

Ian Brown, director of the Hive Network said: “It was fantastic to see so many college students and local school pupils benefitting from the experience of the young North West entrepreneurs. “The Hive Business School is all about creating business engagement opportunities for our young people and it was inspiring to hear the journeys of these award winning companies”