The
entrepreneurs of the future will get the chance to work alongside successful
business creators as part of their studies at Plymouth University.
Three
entrepreneurs in residence are beginning work at the University this term, with
the specific aims of developing projects and inspiring confidence among
students, alumni and businesses.
Working out
of the Futures Entrepreneurship Centre, based at Mast House on Plymouth’s waterfront,
the trio all have experience which they have used to launch their own companies
and now hope to transfer to budding entrepreneurs.
This will
include students enrolling for the new two-year BSc (Hons) Business Enterprise
and Entrepreneurship course, and a number of masters level programmes, which
are being launched at the University from September 2015.
The entrepreneurs in residence, who
have previously worked with the University on a range of enterprise projects,
are:
- Randolph
Gratton worked for nine
years with IBM and 15 years with Hewlett-Packard, but for the past five years
has run a niche consulting practice, focusing on start-ups, SME growth,
business optimisation and addressing complex needs through consortia of SMEs.
- Gareth
Hart, who has over 14 years’ experience working in the social enterprise,
voluntary and public and private sectors and is currently Director of
Iridescent Ideas CIC.
- Raphael
Dennett, a Plymouth University graduate who went on to start his own media
production company is involved with several organisations that work to boost young
people’s confidence and business skills.
Over the coming months,
their specific aims will include mentoring and coaching students in creating
and improving their businesses; to help establish the South West as a hub for a
growing entrepreneurial community; to ensure entrepreneurial business input
into Plymouth programmes and increase the breadth and depth of the overall
student experience; and to foster stronger relationships between students,
alumni and businesses.
Professor
Gideon Maas, Director of the Futures Entrepreneurship Centre, said:
“The vision of Futures is to make a positive impact on
socio-economic growth through focusing on knowledge transfer, research,
extra-curriculum activities, entrepreneurship support and continued
networking. These three people with such wide-ranging and extensive
business experience as Entrepreneurs in Residence will assist with the
accelerated development and implementation of enterprise and entrepreneurship
projects.”
The
Futures Entrepreneurship Centre celebrated its first anniversary in November,
and aims to provide a creative and social space in which entrepreneurship and
social enterprise can flourish.
It has
already established a number of programmes which see students and academics
working alongside the business community at home and abroad, and its advisory
board is chaired by renowned UK entrepreneur and Plymouth alumni Dominic List.