Students given inspirational entrepreneurial talks

More than 200 students from seven schools across Blackburn and Darwen descended on Blackburn Rovers to meet and listen to a number of successful young entrepreneurs at an event aimed at inspiring the next generation of young business people.

The event was organised by the Blackburn with Darwen Business Class Cluster and supported by KPMG and Graham & Brown.

Business Class is a partnership between local businesses and schools who believe the most effective way for business to support young people facing social disadvantage, is to form long-term partnerships with the schools those young people attend.

The main aim of the event was to inspire the students to think about their future and how they are going to prepare for it. There is guidance available but little opportunity for students to learn about enterprise. The event was designed to help students not only learn about enterprising people but to challenge them to think about their own future.

Ian Brown, CSR director of Graham & Brown and chair of the Blackburn with Darwen Business Class Cluster, said: “We were delighted to be involved in such an event. Our shared ambition is to foster entrepreneurial spirit in the students in Blackburn. Investing in tomorrow’s future is very relevant to today’s business. Our economy needs entrepreneurs to create jobs and prosperity for the future.”

The team brought together a number of outstanding Entrepreneurs from across Lancashire who have been successful in setting up their own businesses, also joining them were some outstanding Intraprenuers who are rising stars in their chosen careers.

Speaking after the event, Michelle Billington, assistant principal, entrepreneurship and community at Darwen Aldridge Community Academy, said: “It was a great day that allowed students from across the area to come face to face with inspirational young entrepreneurs. At DACA we believe it is essential to develop entrepreneurial mindsets, behaviours, skills and abilities that will help students not only to create their own futures, but also to contribute to the local economy, this event was a perfect opportunity for students to take a step forward towards achieving this goal” The Enterprise event coincided with Global Entrepreneurship Week an international initiative that introduces entrepreneurship to young people across six continents.