Student entrepreneurs find their spark

Events in Exeter, brought together under the banner of SPARK Week, have been organised by Employability and Graduate Development, Peninsula Innovations and the Students’ Guild. The new Student Entrepreneur in Residence, Tom Carrington-Smith, has played a significant role in shaping the activities and will personally be encouraging students at the University to undertake enterprising initiatives.

The week, which includes master classes, seminars and business challenges from  partners including Enterprise Rent A Car and Exeter City Football Club, culminates in a major ideas sharing forum at the Innovation Centre. Speakers include: Chris Prescott, founder and chief executive of Fantasy Shopper; Adam Houlding, Managing Director at thepurveyor.com; and Rob O’Donovan and Ben Gately, directors of youth marketing agency, The Eleven.

Paul Blackmore, Head of Employability and Graduate Development commented:"In these difficult economic times, it's even more important that we help our students to develop a wide range of skills that will give them a head start in their career. We're delighted that we have such high quality partners in Enterprise Rent A Car and Exeter City Football Club for this initiative who I'm sure will set stretching challenges and allow the students to display their best entrepreneurial talents."

“SPARK Week is an inspiring example of what can be delivered when various parties come together in the interests of a common goal. Supporting and promoting enterprising activity by students is a common denominator for the Students’ Guild, Peninsula Innovations and the University of Exeter Graduate Development team,” said Tracy Costello, University of Exeter Students’ Guild Director of Business and Enterprise.

“Some of the projects and new venture ideas that are already emerging as a result of the Entrepreneur in Residence initiative are fantastic, a real testimony to the talent and ability of Exeter students,” she added.

The weeks’ events have been awarded High Impact status by the GEW international organisers indicating that they rate the activities as important in helping to build and inspire the businesses of tomorrow.

More details can be found on the Career Zone website