The City of Liverpool College have linked with local enterprise support agency The Women’s Organisation to showcase the entrepreneurial talent lying within their students and staff.

The college’s “Student Enterprise Ventures Programme” will run from November 2014 throughout the college year, to inspire students who are bursting with business ideas to take them forward.

By developing a unique partnership with The Women’s Organisation, City of Liverpool College have designed an innovative programme that will offer students the opportunity to say; ‘I am Enterprising’. The project will build their ideas and culminate in a final business pitch competition where they could win real investment in their business to turn their dreams into reality.

City of Liverpool College’s “Student Enterprise Ventures Programme”, will be an exciting and fresh mode of encouraging students and young people to think differently about their choices and options after education. This fantastic programme, established and coordinated by the City of Liverpool College will challenge and excite both the students and staff who are interested in the idea of running a business venture and being self-employed.

City of Liverpool College, which resides in the heart of Liverpool, offers over 500 courses and collaborates with partners of all kinds. They work closely with local training providers and employers in different sectors, to ensure that their students are aware and equipped for the working world. Developing and engaging with the “Student Enterprise Ventures Programme” will encourage and ensure success for their students in many different divisions including self-employment.

City of Liverpool College Students will be able to gather advice and support from The Women’s Organisation team over the coming months. They will be able to research their business ideas and develop a plan at a business boot camp. Students with outstanding ideas will compete against one another to win judges confidence in their business in a Dragon’s Den style competition, where the ‘I am Enterprising’ title will be awarded to one budding entrepreneur.

Former student and role model for the programme Katie Pennington who started her beauty business with help from The Women’s Organisation and training from City of Liverpool College, told us why she wanted to start her own business:

“I can choose how to spend my time which is so appealing when compared to the constraints of working for someone else…I am answerable only to myself and the success of the business is my sole responsibility.”

Katie, who was awarded Level 2 Beauty Student of the Year Award in 2013 and Level 3 Nail Technology Special Recognition Award of 2014, credits her success to her tutors at City of Liverpool College:

“I had brilliant teachers, Kat Welch and Lisa McKenna who were so encouraging and had a love for nails which was contagious.”

“My time at City of Liverpool College taught me that hard work really does pay off. I have always set high standards for myself and it was thrilling when I passed both courses with such high grades. I have brought this mind-set into my business – you get out what you put in.”

On the “Student Enterprise Ventures Programme”, CEO of The Women’s Organisation Maggie O’Carroll said:

“It is great to be working together with City of Liverpool College to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs. It’s important to encourage young people to recognise from an early age that they have options beyond working for someone else and aiming for promotion. Why not start from the top being your own boss?”
“We are pleased to stand alongside City of Liverpool College staff team and highlight their commitment to raising the profile of enterprise as a core passion of the college. We would encourage every student to come and chat to our team when they are around the college over the coming months, no matter how lose you think your idea is. Sometimes the simplest ideas become the best businesses.”

Elaine Bowker, Principal at the City of Liverpool College said:

“Entrepreneurship is a key engine of growth for the UK economy and it’s vital that we support students who want to be the next business owners and leaders of the future. Our partnership with The Women’s Organisation is all about inspiring students and empowering them to develop their own business ideas, create their own business opportunities and take control of their future careers.”