AN enterprise day, to provide hundreds of students with advice on how they can turn a good idea into a successful business venture, is taking place at the University of Glasgow on Wednesday 9th November 2011.
The event, which will cover everything from sparking your idea to the practicalities of licensing, marketing and commercial success, is part of a month-long programme of regional enterprise days organised by the Scottish Institute for Enterprise (SIE) to encourage, inspire and develop the spirit of enterprise among students at Scottish universities.
One example of a SIE successful university spin out business is MakeThatMove in Glasgow, which provides dance videos as an educational resource for professional and novice dancers, dance instructors and professional choreographers.
The company was formed by Consol Efomi (41), who graduated from the University of West of Scotland in Paisley, in June this year.
Mr Efomi, who moved to Glasgow twelve years ago from the Congo, started performing when he was just nine years-old.
When he was 12, he joined a professional hip hop /street dance crew in Belgium afterwhich, he returned to the Congo where he completed his studies while continuing his passion for dance.
He arrived in Scotland in 2002 and worked for the Destiny-Church in Glasgow, helping homeless people and those with drug addictions.
To help lift morale, he started giving occasional hip hop dance performances and when his indefinite leave to remain in the UK application was approved, he formed MakeThatMove, hosting dance classes around the city as means of earning some extra money.
It was while he was in his final year at the UWS studying for a BA in Business Studies with Enterprise, that Efomi approached his SIE advisor with the idea to create an ‘one-stop shop portal’ that provided coaching, entertainment, and expertise for hip hop and street dance enthusiasts.
His website, www.makethatmove.tv, which is being launched at the end of next month, will provide a platform that will enable professional dancers to submit their videos which can be purchased and downloaded via Apple and Android applications.
Content is also being collected from a range of other online video platforms, crowdsourcing, and Efomi’s own international network of celebrities’ choreographers.
Explaining how SIE has helped him turn his business idea into reality, Efomi said: “They have helped coach me through the business planning process and provided me with the essential skills that are required to become a well balanced entrepreneur.
“My SIE advisor spent considerable time understanding my business and even though I have graduated, she continues to support me and encourage me every step of the way.”
Revealing his plans for the future, Efomi said: “I plan to introduce new services that are already in the pipe line, that will bring a significant and positive change in the dance industry. These services will underpin the growth and marketing of the business and in time I hope to be able to franchise MakeThatMove dance schools.”
Commenting SIE chief executive, Fiona Godsman, said” “MakeThatMove is a great example of the entrepreneurial talent that exists in our universities and colleges.
“These regional enterprise days are aimed at harnessing that enthusiasm and talent and providing opportunities and support that will inspire and encourage more young people like Consol Efomi, to become Scotland’s next generation of successful entrepreneurs.”
The Glasgow regional enterprise day will include presentations by Brian Williamson of Jumpstart UK, Mark Evans of Kommando, Liz Walsh at SIE, Eileen Scott at Glasgow University; Karine Burns of Innovation Centres Scotland; and Paula Skinner and Rachel Thomson, Harper Macleod LLP.
Ends
Issued on behalf of SIE by Jen Nash, Panache Communications Ltd. Tel. 07971 466 220 e. jen@panachecommunications.co.uk. Alternatively please contact Scott McKellar at the Scottish Institute for Enterprise on t. 0141 330 8788 or visit www.sie.ac.uk
NOTES TO EDITORS
About SIE
Established in 1999, the Scottish Institute for Enterprise (SIE) aims to foster a culture of entrepreneurship among students in Scottish universities by equipping them with the enterprise skills, and providing the support and resources for students to start up and grow their own business or social enterprise.
Funded by the Scottish Funding Council, Scottish Enterprise and ERDF, SIE works with all nineteen of Scotland’s higher education institutions to increase the number of students who consider entrepreneurship a real career option during and after their studies. A dedicated team of SIE advisors help students discover their entrepreneurial talent through hands-on learning opportunities, activities and events which are delivered through a network of student Interns and enterprise managers located on campus.
SIE also provides ongoing advice once a business has started trading and commercialisation support for ventures which have the potential to become high growth businesses. 15 per cent of students who contact SIE go on to form a business and of those, up to 20 per cent have the potential to be high growth. In the last ten years, SIE has supported the filings of 63 patents and 24 trademarks. Many companies that receive patent funding go on to develop international patent portfolios in Europe, Japan, USA and elsewhere.
SIE’s vision is to be recognised as experts in entrepreneurial education within the higher education sector in Scotland.
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Contact: Jen Nash
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