LAW students at Edinburgh Napier University were given the opportunity to experience entrepreneurship and get an insight into the mindset of future clients in recent workshops run by the Scottish Institute for Enterprise (SIE).
Following similar successful workshops with legal diploma students in Glasgow University, SIE were invited to Edinburgh Napier University to run two workshops during Global Entrepreneurship Week (13 – 20 Nov).
At the workshop on Nov 18th, students were presented with a problem and came up with business ideas that would address it.
They then had to pitch their ideas to a judging panel, including judges from legal firms, Morton Fraser, Anderson Strathern, and Bright Red Triangle, Edinburgh Napier University’s student enterprise support unit.
The rationale behind the workshops comes from the Scottish Governments CAN DO initiative to increase Scotland’s entrepreneurial activity, and the growing need to connect law with some of the skills and mindsets associated with innovation and entrepreneurship.
Ann Davidson, enterprise programme director at SIE, explained: “What we want to do is allow them to experience how an entrepreneur acts and thinks and help them appreciate that from their future clients perspective.
“As lawyers, they will be part of the ecosystem in Scotland that supports our entrepreneurs, so it’s important that they have an understanding of that experience so that they’ll be able to support them effectively. They will also benefit from innovative thinking which will help them progress their careers in their new firms.”
Dr Richard Whitecross, lecturer in Law at Edinburgh Napier University, continued: “The students have had an excellent experience and this opportunity is one of a number of activities where we encourage engagement with enterprise at Edinburgh Napier to help students develop additional skills and stand out after graduation.”
Nick Fannin, panel judge and head of Bright Red Triangle, said: “There were some really impressive ideas being pitched, showing that innovation is not just for entrepreneurs.
“Students need to develop an enterprising mindset if they are going to thrive in whatever they do after university.”
Law students in Glasgow and Edinburgh Napier participated in the workshops, with more planned across Scotland in 2016.
Pictured: Edinburgh Napier University students with lecturer, Richard Whitecross and judges from Anderson Strathern, Morton Fraser and Bright Red Triangle.
-ENDS-
Notes for editors:
1) The Scottish Institute for Enterprise (SIE)
The Scottish Institute for Enterprise is the national organisation for the promotion and support of enterprise and entrepreneurship in Scotland’s students. SIE works with Universities and Colleges to champion enterprise education and help their students start new innovative businesses. SIE provides free one-to-to advice, enterprise workshops and business competitions supported by a national team of student interns and business advisors. SIE is supported by the Scottish Founding Council and Scottish Enterprise and is part of the Scotland CAN DO framework.
In the last academic year over 6,000 students took part in enterprise workshops run by SIE in Scotland’s colleges and universities.
For more information about SIE, go to: www.sie.ac.uk
2) Scotland CANDO
Scotland CANDO was launched in November 2013 and represents a shared statement of intent towards making Scotland a world-leading entrepreneurial and innovative nation. CAN DO partners are commited to working together to achieve this vision.
3) Global Entrepreneurship Week
Global Entreneurship Week is the world’s largest celebration of enterprise and entrepreneurship. Each November, GEW inspires people everywhere through events and activities to consider taking the next step in their entrepreneurial journey. In 2015, 160 countries participated in GEW.
4) Bright Red Triangle
Bright Red Triangle offers enterprise support to students and graduates at Edinburgh Napier University. It also offers a comprehensive consultancy service to local businesses drawing from an impressive array of doctoral, postgraduate and undergraduate students.
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SIE contact details…
Contact: Scott McKellar
Phone: 01415353190
Email: s.mckellar@sie.ac.uk
Website: http://www.sie.ac.uk
