Doug Richard offers chance to academics to become entrepreneurs
Original Dragons' Den star Doug Richard will be hosting a day of seminars at Plymouth University on how academic institutions can become more enterprising.
The Entrepreneurial Institution (EI) Challenge Event will take place on Monday December 10 with free two-hour workshops for managers, researchers, educators and students from Higher Education providers in Devon and Cornwall.
Attendees will learn how to successfully employ the tools of entrepreneurship to stay ahead in an increasingly competitive educational marketplace, and how institutions can work together and with industry to become more effective.
Supported by Plymouth University's Growth Acceleration and Investment Network (GAIN) and Doug Richard's School for Startups, topics covered during the events will include:
* How managers can become more entrepreneurial
* How researchers can protect themselves from funding cuts
* How educators can learn the latest thinking on the effectiveness of enterprise teaching
* How students can acquire skills to increase employability create their own job
The free seminars are part of a series of events being organised by GAIN to support business growth across the region. GAIN was set up by Plymouth University, Plymouth City Council and Tamar Science Park to accelerate the creation, growth and investment in high quality businesses and ideas in the South West.
Julian Beer, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Regional Enterprise at Plymouth University said: "The Entrepreneurial Institution Challenge Event is what GAIN is all about - sharing the expertise and specialist facilities we have within the GAIN partnership to fuel business growth across the region.
"We are delighted to welcome Doug Richard to deliver the seminars; as an entrepreneur of such high calibre I am sure he will provide excellent inspiration to staff and students."
Entrepreneur Doug, founder of School for Start Ups added: "I'm very pleased to be working with GAIN to deliver these free workshops for academic institutions. The UK needs entrepreneurs now more than ever, and we have to start tapping into the abundance of innovative talent that British universities and colleges have, and help them to unleash their entrepreneurial potential.
"There are so many brilliant people out there who can be part of Britain's entrepreneurial future, and I can't wait to meet them and get down to business."
The Entrepreneurial Institution Challenge Event seminars will take place at 9am, 11.30am and 3pm on Monday in the University's Rolle Building.
They follow a highly successful event hosted by Doug Richard at Plymouth Pavilions in October about raising and investing money.
To book a place at the free seminars visit: http://www.entrepreneurialinstitution.org/venues/plymouth-university/
