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Entrepreneurial spirit needed for UK universities, says NCGE
Entrepreneurial spirit should be rife throughout the culture of UK higher education, it has been suggested.
According to the National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship (NCGE), there is no room for a reliance on the public sector.
This attitude should "percolate throughout the university", said Ian Robertson, chief executive of the National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship.
He commented that threats to higher education offered "a positive challenge for university leaders".
"The institution itself needs to act entrepreneurially to wean itself off public funding," Mr Robertson argued.
"All departments and individuals should explore ways of engaging with industry and entrepreneurs in a more beneficial way for everyone."
This week, the NCGE announced a tie-up with Dragons' Den star Doug Richard to launch a nationwide training programme for academics that promotes enterprise in UK universities.
The Enterprising Academic Programme will encourage lecturers and researchers to understand the business context of their work.
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Posted by Sarah Parish
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Govt funding to help jobless start a business
The government is set to offer additional financial support to individuals out of work who are considering starting a business.
Prime minister David Cameron announced that up to 40,000 new companies could be established using the New Enterprise Allowance fund over the next two years.
He expressed the view that the initiative could help make the coming years "some of the most dynamic and entrepreneurial in our history".
Individuals who have been claiming Jobseekers' Allowance for six months will be offered up to £2,000 financial support to start their own small company.
This will come in the form of a start-up loan and then a weekly allowance, providing a viable business plan has been provided.
Each new business owner will also have access to a dedicated mentor, who will have to judge the quality of their plan.
Commenting on the scheme, Mr Cameron stated: "Backing new enterprises to start up and small businesses to grow will be what transforms our economy and will deliver the many thousands of new jobs we will see created this year.
"It is vital that we ensure businesses, and those people who find themselves out of work but have the drive and desire to set up their own business, have all the advice, support and mentoring they need."
Last month, Emma Soames, editor-at-large of Saga Magazine, claimed it can be "a really good idea" for unemployed people to move into business as their own boss.
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Posted by Steve Williams
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UK economy needs entrepreneurial graduates
The higher education system is "one of the most vital aspects" of the government's ambition for an "entrepreneurial" economy, it has been claimed.
According to the National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship (NCGE), the UK's "engine of economic competitiveness" is whatever our universities are able to produce.
The organisation said that as a knowledge-based economy, it is vital to produce graduates who are able to contribute substantially to the economy and society as a whole.
Ian Robertson, chairman of the NCGE, said the types of entrepreneurs that emerge in a technology-savvy world with global competition will come from higher education.
Mr Robertson said that an enterprising attitude is needed right across the university system if the right environment in which to nurture the new breed of businesspeople is to be achieved.
He added that the benefits of entrepreneurial attitudes extend further than the private sector.
"They also help to transform our public and charity sectors, and utilise social enterprises for public good," Mr Robertson noted.
A Deloitte survey published this week showed that 90 per cent of the UK's entrepreneurial businesses expected to grow their revenues in the next year.
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Posted by Steve Williams
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Forward planning essential when starting a business
Individuals starting a small business should take a number of steps to get their enterprise off to the best possible start, it has been claimed.
Author Kerry Hannon urged new entrepreneurs to find a mentor who may be able to guide them along their path into business, and provide valuable behind-the-scenes help.
She also urged people to delve into their network of friends, family and work colleagues, plus any additional contacts they may be able to acquire using social media.
Ms Hannon urged company founders to evaluate their skill set and be confident.
"If cold calling isn't your top move, focus on your best sales technique and hone it to market your new venture," she stated.
All new businesspeople must be prepared to suffer setbacks, the author noted, claiming that starting a business in uncharted territory takes time.
"It might take off [rapidly], but in time, you will hit the inevitable setbacks. This not only will require internal fortitude, but also will force you to ask others for help and guidance," Ms Hannon noted.
"This is when a solid mentor by your side comes in handy."
She urged people to listen to advice from people who have been successful in the field, as they can offer real insight into what running a company is like on a day-to-day basis.
"Use their advice to get a sense of what has worked for them in the past and what stumbling blocks to avoid, as well as a sense of what the work entails and what opportunities might be out there for someone with your background," she said.
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Posted by Steve Williams
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Unemployed people urged to start a business
Brits who find themselves unemployed against their wishes should consider starting a business, it has been claimed.
Emma Soames, editor at large of Saga Magazine, said that for individuals who are in an appropriate field, this can be "a really good idea".
She noted that self-employed people are the masters of their own destiny, who can carry on working as long as they like without employer intervention.
A study published by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) last week found that middle-aged workers are missing out on jobs in favour of young people aged under 35 and workers aged over 50.
Two-thirds of the 350,000 additional jobs created in the UK so far this year have gone to the under-35s, with older workers accounting for the remainder.
But according to Ms Soames, there are other options to consider when it comes to finding work - in particular, self-employment.
"Depending on your skill set, your capabilities and where you live, if people can see a gap in the market, go for it and do it yourself," she urged.
She claimed that this can be a better option than trying to get a salary job working for somebody else.
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Posted by Steve Williams
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