Enterprising Buckingham!

Yesterday, the University hosted (for the first time ever outside of London) the Enterprise Festival - #EntFest. It is described as:

a unique celebration of enterprise and entrepreneurship. Brought to you by the Peter Jones Foundation for Enterprise and hosted by the University of Buckingham, this free one-day festival will bring students, young entrepreneurs, business founders, leaders and investors together to network, learn and champion enterprise in all its forms.

And what an occasion it was: a heady mix of young and experienced entrepreneurs! Ideas, business cards, laughter and praise were liberally shared around. It was a delight to be part of this and, especially listen to the four finalists make their pitches, Dragon's Den style, to win the prize of £5000 and (as added on the day by the Vice Chancellor) a scholarship to attend the University's unique Business Enterprise degree. And as it turned out - there were two winners! One was a chap from Huddersfield who has developed a business around providing dynamic screens to local takeways. And the other was a young man from Dudley who has developed a virtual reality programme that helps people feel more confident before job interviews. Both great business ideas and worthy winners!

Here are some pics to give you a flavour of the day... (and it might be returning next year, fingers crossed!). First the chap from Huddersfield

And the co-winner from Dudley

Showing some of the fun as well

The church was filled to the edges with young people, school and college students, their teachers and families of all those involved plus the entrepreneurs as well.

The stalls in Church Street - I bought some bookmarks from some schoolchildren.

Fascinating discussion about where failure/feedback fits into the experience of being an entrepreneur. Peter Jones on the left of course, next the chap behind The Cinnamon Club, the compere, woman who set up an organic food company long before it became fashionable, she said, the man who set up King of Shaves (which I happen to use) and a lovely bloke from Glasgow who business involves lasers and quantum mechanics (eek!) He told me a great story about how it was a brilliant Physics teacher who inspired him to set up his business. (Sorry I don't have all their names)

And Peter Jones, of course, almost as tall as the Church spire!

And the amazing cake made by Party Bakes too! (Thanks to Alistair Lomax for the pic)