Lift off for entrepreneurs@tees

The spirit of entrepreneurship was alive and well at the launch of entrepreneurs@tees.

The new society for university entrepreneurs got the thumbs-up from both the University’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise, Professor Cliff Hardcastle, and the President of the Students’ Union, Lori Wheatman, as well as from graduate business owners whose enterprises were launched with the University’s support.

Professor Hardcastle welcomed both current graduate business entrepreneurs and students hoping to follow in their footsteps at the launch event in the Students’ Union Hub.

He said: ‘You can feel the sense of vitality and energy in this room as we launch this exciting joint initiative between the Students Union and the University.’

He stressed the importance of entrepreneurs@tees being led by the Students’ Union so it can help students grow and develop the kinds of businesses that you can see around the University today.

Professor Hardcastle added: ‘There’s never been a better time to start your own business .’

It was a view echoed by several University graduate business owners, who spoke about their experiences and the way their own enterprises had been launched with the help of the University’s graduate business incubation scheme.

Supporting new businesses Tom Howsam, Director of Thap, started the enterprise after graduating from a degree in Information Technology. It began as a web design agency in 2004 and has now moved into mobile applications, creating applications forApple and Windows Phone 7 devices.

‘The incubation programme gave me and my business partner the space to grow our own company and the chance to take risks and learn from our mistakes,’ said Tom.

Tracy Russell studied business management and went on to work for a large company.

She said: ‘Unfortunately, or fortunately for me, I lost my job in January and had to up-skill myself. Since then, things have gone from strength to strength and I launched my business, X-Sell Training and Development, in July.’

Dominic Lusardi, Managing Director of Animmersion UK, graduated from a degree in Visualisation in 2001 and launched the business with a fellow graduate five years ago. Like Tom, he is now based in DigitalCity’s Bo-Ho business centre, but maintains strong links with Teesside. The company specialises in digital media and technology, with a focus on 3D animation.

He said: ‘Some of the best students come out of this University, and we might as well take advantage of that.’

Showing real ambition Lori Wheatman, President of the Students’ Union, said she loved the ambition of some of the key drivers behind entrepreneurs@tees, including New Business Manager, Neil Hannah and Terry Bearpark from the School of Health & Social Care, and was delighted to see it become a society within the Students’ Union.

Lori said: ‘At a time when lots of people are gaining high class degrees, it’s really important to encourage students to learn these extra skills so that they are able to go out and get the jobs they want. My father set up his own business at the age of 56 a couple of years ago, and it’s really encouraging to see students being able to set up their own businesses at the age of 18.’

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