A range of business, technology and innovation speakers including those from the worlds of app-creation, crowdfunding, marketing and software, have spoken to the next-generation of entrepreneurs and digital creatives at Bournemouth University’s Festival of Enterprise 2017.
The Festival, which saw a three-day schedule of events run across BU’s Talbot and Lansdowne campuses, focused on conception of new business ideas, through to the development of branding, company growth, and the use of research projects to enhance potential.
Events began with a talk from Creative Consultant Matt Desmier of Silicon Beach, Simon Deverall of crowdfunding platform Crowdfunder and Mike Hawkyard of Bournemouth-based agency, Amuzo. Business Consultant Dominic Monkhouse also gave a talk to aspiring entrepreneurs alongside Cathy White, an experienced start-up marketer.
A host of year ten students from Twynham School in Christchurch were also among visitors to the festival and were able to meet with current Business students at the university for drop-in sessions, as well as hear about how entrepreneurs can help charities.
Keith Pretty, Senior Lecture in Business Development and event organiser, said: “The Festival has gone really well. We’ve had lots of people who’ve been really interested in starting new businesses or growing existing businesses.
“People have said that the stories are really powerful and they can see how others have done and where they may make mistakes and need help. The events have been about getting people inspired. They can do this and it’s not that hard, it’s just about taking those steps gently.”
“Wednesday started off the Festival with Spark – start your business. Friday has seen workshops to grow businesses. We’ve worked with the Dorset Growth Hub and Matt Desmier of Silicon Beach to make the event really successful.”
Leading a set of business one-to-one workshops to close the Festival, Dorset Business Growth Hub Manager Lucy Cooper said: “We’ve heard from three local businesses with really fascinating stories to really inspire attendees of the event to see what is possible. The Fuel the Flames event was really our consolidation session for the week, so it was more about how, once you’ve grown a start-up, you can then get investment - how do you become innovative enough to survive, grow and scale-up your business?
“The Dorset Growth Hub teamed up with Bournemouth University, as we do every year, to run the third Festival of Enterprise. The event really helps us to get some final year students and those doing part-time courses, interested in start-ups and help support them via the Growth Hub which is free.”
The annual public event is also open to students, schools, academics, and professionals is free to attend – those interested in taking part in next year’s event can contact event organiser Keith Pretty at [email protected].
