They're the stuff of enterprising legend; the Mark Zuckerbergs, the Steve Jobs, the Spiegels, Murphys and Browns.
Yes, those remarkable individuals who stumbled upon a great idea, had the resources and the tenacity to make it work and within a few years, they’re multi-millionaires.
Sometimes it can feel like the only way to success is the conventional one – get a place on a graduate scheme and climb the ladder. But most of us have at some point wondered about working for ourselves, and most of us have had an idea that, if we just knew how, might actually take off. Welcome to the Focus on Enterprise Week – your chance to find out the secrets of the start-ups, and just maybe, join the ranks of the brightest and best in global entrepreneurship.
From technology to tutoring, from finance to fine dining – you bring the idea and the determination, and we’ll help develop the skills and knowledge you need to succeed.
MONDAY 8 FEBRUARY
Entrepreneur Skills Workshop (Mayor of London Low Carbon Entrepreneur)
17.15 – 19.15
Seminar Room, Careers Service, Level 5 Sherfield Building
To be a successful innovator you’ll need networking skills, to be able to come up with a good idea and pitch it, use social media and create a sustainable business. Run by representatives from the Mayor of London’s Low Carbon Entrepreneur competition, this workshop will give you the foundations you need to become a successful entrepreneur!
TUESDAY 9 FEBRUARY
Entrepreneurship in Finance: Hot Ticket or Hot Mess? (Lunchtime Talk)
13.00 – 13.50
G34 Sir Alexander Fleming Building
The financial industry is in the midst of an exciting transition that has the potential to transform the way we think about borrowing and investing.
Innovations such as crowdfunding, peer-to-peer lending and marketplace lending are changing the financial sector, especially when it comes to how small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) access finance, and how investments are made. In May 2015, Morgan Stanley estimated that this emerging sector would grow to between $150bn and $490bn globally by 2020.
In this lively talk, Dr. Louise Beaumont, Head of Public Affairs and Marketing at GLI Finance, will discuss some of the opportunities and challenges of the fast-growing and disruptive alternative finance (AltFin) and finance technology (FinTech) sectors.
WEDNESDAY 10 FEBRUARY
Business Game session using XING
16.15 – 18.00
Seminar Room, Careers Service, Level 5 Sherfield Building
In a competitive graduate market place, employers are looking for competency-based skills, including presentation, planning, and intuition. During this session, you will work in small teams and be given a business brief – it’s your task to create a business plan and pitch back to the rest of the group. Xing, a business plan generation game, will be used during the session to decide on and plan a strategy to move the business from an initial idea to a defined goal.
THURSDAY 11 FEBRUARY
Beginning your Journey into Business: Panel Discussion
13.00 – 13.50
G34 Sir Alexander Fleming Building
How difficult is it to start a business? Could your idea be the next big thing? Where do you EVEN begin?
Raise your entrepreneurial spirits as a panel of speakers share their insights and experiences in setting up businesses and enterprises, the challenges they’ve had to overcome, and their top advice for setting up your own venture. Even if you’re not looking to start-up, you’ll get the chance to understand how enterprising skills can be used in all walks of life.
Highly engaging speakers will include advisers from the High Tech Growth Group at KPMG, and Sam Curry, founder of Scholarly Tutoring and 2015 candidate on BBC’s ‘The Apprentice’.
Start-up & Enterprise Networking Event
18.00 – 20.00
Careers Service, Level 5 Sherfield Building
This speed-networking event features six different SMEs and start-ups, allowing you to move from one organisation to another in small groups and giving you the chance to explore opportunities in different industries with a range of employers.
What can you gain?
- Intimate exposure to a diverse range of small and medium sized companies
- Insights from employers about what it is really like to work for a small enterprise or how to set-up your own
- Find out about any work opportunities – current and upcoming – in the attending organisations
FRIDAY 12 FEBRUARY
Career Café: First Steps to Starting a Business
Friday 12 February, 12.00 – 13.00
Careers Service, Level 5 Sherfield Building
Have you ever considered setting up your own business but wouldn’t know where to start? If so, this interactive Career Café will introduce you to the basics of starting up from thinking innovatively to accessing finance. Start your entrepreneurial journey today: think of it as baby steps to being the next Branson!
Book to attend via JobsLive
Start-up Consultations with Business Mentor
Friday 12 February, 14.00 - 16.10
Careers Service, Level 5 Sherfield Building
If you've got a business idea but you're not sure what to do next, or how to take it from the idea stage, make sure you book in for a 20-minute consultation with entrepreneur, investor and Virgin StartUp Mentor, Sam Tilston.
Sam will be on hand to guide you through ways to become a successful entrepreneur. Help includes advice on strategy, funding and networking, as well as insights into online marketing & sales and business finances.
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Olivia Sleet
Careers Service
Contact details
Email: press.office@imperial.ac.uk
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