Group Size
?
1.) Small group (teams of 4-6)
2.) Individual Task
3.) Large Group
4.) Any
Individual Task, Large Group
Learning Environment
?
1.) Lecture Theatre
2.) Presentation Space
3.) Carousel Tables (small working group)
4.) Any
5.) Outside
6.) Special
Carousel Tables (small working group), Any
QAA Enterprise Theme(s)
?
1.) Creativity and Innovation
2.) Opportunity recognition, creation and evaluation
3.) Decision making supported by critical analysis and judgement
4.) Implementation of ideas through leadership and management
5.) Reflection and Action
6.) Interpersonal Skills
7.) Communication and Strategy
2Opportunity recognition‚ creation and evaluation
4Implementation of ideas through leadership and management
6Interpersonal Skills
7Communication and Strategy
The meeting is normally between one hour and two and a half hours and usually takes place at lunchtime on a Wednesday. This allows current students time to attend when they are not at lectures. There is a mix of student and graduate entrepreneurs, all at different levels of success in their businesses and all at different stages in their development. Businesses range from hi-tech to low-tech, creatives and social enterprises. Members of the student-led Entrepreneurship Society and Enactus are welcome, as are any students with an early stage idea.
TypicallyEntrepreneurs Exchange is held once every two months and will run if 2 or more people attend. Normally we will see 20-30 entrepreneurs turn up. It is structured as an old fashioned chat around a table, with everyone included and no one person or organisation dominating proceedings. Speakers are asked to talk for around 20 – 30 minutes about their business journey, pass on advice, tips, contacts and ways to mitigate risk. There then follows an open discussion which will include the guest speaker. We ask the presenters not to use slides and to simply talk to the group.
On occasion we do not invite a guest and a closed meeting is held. This tends to bring out important issues which may not have been expressed with an outsider in attendance.
Internal University services are sometimes invited to speak – eg the internship programme, volunteering, careers service. The sessions have also been used as focus groups for upcoming enterprise initiatives.
At Christmas time we hold a more social meeting.
Entrepreneurs Exchange has been running successfully at the University of Leeds for 8 years.
Opening remarks
Spark representative welcomes everyone and explains the reason for Entrepreneurs Exchange. The speaker is introduced. 2 minutes.
Introductions
Everyone round the table is asked to (briefly) tell the group what their business is, and what they studied at University. This provides them with an opportunity to practice an elevator pitch or simply to understand what everyone else in the room is working on. 15 minutes dependant on numbers.
Speaker
The floor is handed over to the speaker who then talks for 20 – 30 minutes about their business, their experience and pass on any tips or highlight any downfalls in running a business. They talk about the risks and how to mitigate them. Often they will pass on contacts or arrange follow ups with interested Spark entrepreneurs.
Open session
The floor then is opened up for Q and A and any matters that the founders wish to discuss. This normally takes about 20 minutes but can last longer – flexible.
Good news stories/Opportunities/ Requests
The facilitator asks if there are any good news stories that anyone wants to share, and opportunities for business that they wish to highlight, or to make any requests that they may have (eg requiring a website designed etc). 10 minutes.
Close and networking
The facilitator closes the meeting by thanking the speaker and all for attending. The date of the next Entrepreneurs Exchange is confirmed.
Promotion
Entrepreneurs Exchange is promoted directly to our mailing list of current and past Spark business founders, potential new start-ups, enterprise societies, recent graduate founders, Incubation businesses. Reminder emails are sent out a few days before the event.
The impact was significant as ….
The network of new entrepreneurs is important to their success. Many friendships and business collaborations have been formed at Entrepreneurs Exchange. For most, this is their first business network.
The opportunity for the University to engage with potential donors. We work closely with the Advancement Office to bring in alumni and business network speakers who have the potential to donate back into Spark. Philanthropic gifting has been secured as a direct result of being engaged at Entrepreneurs Exchange.
It is an opportunity for existing donors to give back in a different way, not just through financial giving.
The positive impact on mental health, particularly for international students who have lost their friendship groups, is significant.
There is a feel good factor when sharing good news stories. Many take great pride in their peers’ success.
Entrepreneurs Exchange is consistent and sustainable.
It is relatively low cost to arrange.
Images are included in our Impact Report – see link below.
Entrepreneurs Exchange events are highlighted in the Spark Impact reports available on our website:
