US inspiration for entrepreneurs
Sep 28 2004
Budding entrepreneurs from the UK have been given the opportunity to expand their skills and learn more about starting and running a business, by taking part in a scheme at Babson College, one of the world’s foremost colleges for entrepreneurs.
The scheme, called the New Entrepreneur Scholarship (NES) is part of a series of initiatives funded by the Learning & Skills Council (LSC), which is responsible for planning and funding education and training for over 16-year olds in England.
As part of NES, 20 UK entrepreneurs travelled to America (on the New Entrepreneur Transatlantic Scholarships – NETS) at the end of June to experience business training and to meet American entrepreneurs in related fields. According to the LSC, NETS provides an exciting opportunity for scholars from deprived areas, who traditionally might not have either the financial resources, or the support network, to promote entrepreneurial ideas.
An intensive two-week programme was developed at Babson College, where UK participants had the opportunity to develop their business plans with experts in the field. At the end of the two weeks, participants had to present their plans to a panel and received critical feedback.
“This opportunity was enormously exciting for the scholars, some of whom come from difficult backgrounds. We will be carefully monitoring the progress that the scholars build on their experience for future years,” said George Derbyshire, chief executive of the National Federation of Enterprise Agencies, a lead partner of NES.
(28/09/04)