University targets tomorrow's tycoons

The University of Southampton is celebrating Enterprise Week (15-21 November) by encouraging students to think seriously about becoming tomorrow's business leaders.

The University's Centre for Enterprise and Innovation (CEI) and the Institute for Entrepreneurship are both staging events.

Olympic double-gold medallist Shirley Robertson will be speaking at Been There, Done That, Got the Business at the Avenue Campus in Highfield Road, Southampton on Saturday 20 November. Her message will be - always go after your goals with passion! The session from 1.00 to 5.00pm will also feature workshops and there will be experts on hand from the CEI, South Hampshire Enterprise Agency and HM Customs to offer advice to budding entrepreneurs. Successful student businessmen Andy Fidler and Rob Meeks will share their experiences of running their own companies.

The event is open to all students in the Solent area.

On Friday evening in the Students' Union club, the Cube, a £200 prize will be on offer for the best 'elevator pitch' - a student business idea summarised in 60 seconds.

Rosy Jones, Director of Business Development at the CEI commented: "Enterprise Week gives our students a great opportunity to think about setting themselves up in business and we hope lots of students from all over south Hampshire will be inspired to take the first steps to achieving their goals."

Staff from the Institute for Entrepreneurship, which already offers a Masters in Business Venturing and other courses and programmes, will have a stand in the Students' Union foyer on Tuesday and Wednesday (10.30am to 2.30pm) explaining the importance of enterprise. They also will have prizes on offer for the best business ideas. Students will be invited to talk through their concepts in a supportive environment with a 'lets see how to make this happen' attitude.