Blackburn students to be offered free enterprise advice

Enterprising students from Blackburn College will have a chance to put their business ideas to the test during a “business bootcamp” as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week 2013 (GEW).

The students will receive top tips from experienced business coaches at the event on how to run a business, before being asked to think up or develop their own business ideas.

They will then have the opportunity to pitch their ideas to a panel of judges, with the chance to win a £100 voucher prize. The bootcamp will attract around 80 students from across the college from a range of course areas.

The event coincides with an online competition run by Blackburn College with the help of Regenerate and other partners. The ‘Coffeemat challenge’ invites students to submit ideas for a social enterprise for the chance to win prizes such as Rovers Tickets, Mall Vouchers, Starbucks Coffees, Scholars Meals, Slate 7s and an Ipad.

The bootcamp is run by Regenerate Pennine Lancashire and Blackburn College, with coaching from Winning Pitch. It follows the success of a similar event in 2012.

Rona McFall, enterprise and employment manager at Regenerate, said: “The aim of the day is to get young people thinking about enterprise. Some of the students could be tomorrow’s business leaders and we would like them to leave the session with the realisation that running their own business is an achievable, rewarding career option."

Nick Hall, business engagement manager at Blackburn College, said: “We are delighted to team up with Regenerate to deliver this session to our students. "The college has a number of initiatives to promote and encourage enterprise. To celebrate Global Enterprise is so important especially as Blackburn has such a high level of self-employed businesses. We are hoping this session will equip our students with the skills and confidence to pitch ideas whilst also identifying a number of businesses that we are able to support going forward."