Enterprise & entrepreneurs
The information in this section aims to support you if you have ever thought about self employment and starting your own business, or if you currently have your own business but need information on your next steps.
Entrepreneurs come from all walks of life and have different backgrounds and life experiences. It is not a career option confined to any particular degree you can come from almost any discipline. The essential skills required to be a successful entrepreneur include:
- Communication skills being able to communicate effectively at all levels both on paper and in person
- Product development identifying suitable resources and the people that can help
- Financial management how to manage cash flow and keep accounts
Resources for Graduates and Current Students
National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship, NCGE. Offer enterprise education, practical advice and networking opporunties
Useful information and links on the Prospects site
Shell Livewire - start up help for 16 - 30 year olds.
Business Link offer practical business advice and networking.
Oxford Brookes Centre for Creativity and Enterprise Development offer Enterprise education and support.
The Princes Trust offer start up help to eligible individuals
NESTA Business start up support for creative businesses.
Social Enterprise
A Social Enterprise is a business with social objectives whose surpluses are reinvested for that purpose into the business or the community, rather than to make profits for shareholders and owners.
The Government has recognised the increasingly important role that Social Enterprises play in today's society and has committed itself to encouraging the huge potential for growth of businesses within this sector. Social Enterprises employ several million people throughout Europe and they play a crucial role in contributing both to their economies and to society as a whole.
You can find out more about Social Enterprise on the following web pages:
The Social Enterprise Coalition (SEC) is the UK trade body that brings together all types of Social Enterprise to promote the sector and share knowledge.
Information and projects on Social Enterprises from a global perspective.