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19 January 2004
Entrepreneurs of the future will be learning how to turn business ideas into reality at a special event hosted by the University of Sussex.
More than 250 Year 10 pupils from 18 Sussex schools are taking part in workshops and talks on January 22 and 23 for the launch of the first Entrepreneurs for Tomorrow Business Plan Competition.
Speakers at the two-day event include. MIke Herd, director of the Sussex Innovation Centre, and former British ice dance champion, Nicky Slater, who is now a marketing and business coach and runs his own innovative company, Adventure.
The event has been organised by the University's regional development office, together with the Specialist Schools Trust, Sussex Innovation Centre, Education Business Partnership and Ringer Community College. All schools involved [see list below] are affiliated to or are members of the Specialist Schools Trust.
Sharon Phillips, regional development manager for the University of Sussex, says: "The university feels that entrepreneurship and innovation are important to business growth and education and that it's essential these seeds are sown early in the career of a potential entrepreneur."
The event involves advice and guidance from local business mentors, academics and student mentors about how universities can be involved in innovative projects within the curriculum, as well as a visit to the Innovation Centre to find out how it supports and encourages new companies.
"The aim is to help these young people develop the skills to come up with a business concept," says Sharon Phillips. "They don't have to make the product or implement it, but they will need to research the market place and ground their ideas."
The students will be given until April to submit business plans for the competition, with the winners to be announced in May 2004. The winning project will be determined by the business plan that the judges would be most likely to invest in.
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Press Office contacts: Jacqui Bealing or Alison Field, University of Sussex,
Tel. 01273 678888, Fax 01273 877456, J.A.Bealing@sussex.ac.uk or A.Field@sussex.ac.uk.
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