Contents

1. BRIGHT FUTURES SEPTEMBER - Thames Valley University
2. MARKETEST
3. ORBIS
4. Calling all web designers!
5. Seedcamp 2009 - opportunity for web startups
6. NACUE Societies
7. Flying Start - Erasmus for young entrepreneurs
8. Flying Start - Shell LiveWIRE Live™

 IMPORTANT
If you are graduating this year, don't forget to change your email address NOW on the WestFocus system to continue to receive news and further opportunities once you graduate.  Sign in and change your details here www.westfocus.org.uk/entrepreneurship/

Bright Futures - 9th to 11th September 2009

Thames Valley University, St Mary's Campus

You and your ideas are the heart of Bright Futures - an intensive, fun and challenging 3-day programme for students who aspire to do more.

Bright Futures is your opportunity to:

- develop yourself and an enterprising spirit
- start communicating more effectively
- build your networking skills to help you find jobs and support for your ideas
- meet like-minded students and entrepreneurs to inspire you
- add more to your C.V. and build your career

No business experience needed. All students welcome.

Places are limited, so apply now at:
www.westfocus.org.uk/entrepreneurship
Closing date: 28th August 2009
  

2. MARKETEST

The current economic climate is having an impact on businesses large and small. Some are suffering while others are discovering new opportunities. Several people who have lost their job's are now thinking about launching their own businesses. What is clear is that the economic uncertainty means that researching a business’ market potential has never been more important.
 
Marketest is a leading online market research company for business start-ups. They have more than 10 years’ experience in helping start-ups by testing their target market.

For more information go to : www.marketest.co.uk/   

15% discount if you mention the Westfocus web site! 

3. ORBIS

ORBIS is an internship programme for recent graduates seeking to enter the bioscience sector who aren't necessarily bioscience grads.  It is funded by the HEFCE ECIF awards.  Orbis has 18 bioscience companies signed up already and are now hoping to place talented and enterprising graduates with them in the near future (Aug / Sep starts).  In addition to £220 per week (tax free) for the 26-week duration of the internships, the interns  receive 12-days of bio-business training.

 Click on the logo for more information

4. Calling all web designers

Would you like to work on a real life project over the summer for a company and get paid?
We need talented web designers to carry out projects for small to medium enterprises under the Shell Step Summer Placement scheme and other short term programmes. Not only is this an ideal opportunity to put your creative skills to work; you will also be gaining commercial awareness from entrepreneurs and discovering firsthand how a small business operates.
You will be paid £200-£220 per week depending on the project and adding something really special to your CV

If you have good Photoshop skills (or other graphic packages) and can create web pages using HTML, CSS or any web creation tools including open source, please send a CV and covering letter to i.stafford@kingston.ac.uk  

5. Seedcamp 2009- opportunity for web startups

Seedcamp Week 2009 applications are now open for the next wave of European web-tech talent

Seedcamp is a weeklong programme from 21-25th September that connects 20 early stage web tech startups with over 400 highly experienced and sought after entrepreneurs, investors, marketers, product and developer experts.  The 20 teams compete for seed funding; most importantly they garner world-class connections and recognition in the European entrepreneurial ecosystem. At the end of the week Seedcamp will invest up to €50K each in 5 teams for a small equity stake (5%-10%).

Apply NOW , applications are now open and being accepted till 23rd August 2009

6. NACUE Societies

Developing your society is much like starting a venture. You need a solid strategic plan to make sure that you stay on track when things get busy during the academic year. From governance and finance to programming and marketing, the summer is the perfect time to get your society on track.

Log onto the NACUE Groups Portal to get access to other resources on sponsorship and marketing and check out the recent discussions on the Discussion Board with some suggestions on sponsorship, possible workshops and keynote speakers. Share on the discussion board, your innovative insights on how to launch your society with a bang and the cool marketing techniques that you intend to use.

Click here to register and for more information  

7. Flying Start - Erasmus for young entrepreneurs

Are you planning to set up your own business, or have you already started a business within the last three years?

Erasmus for young entrepreneurs is offering you the opportunity to learn from an experienced host entrepreneur who is running a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) in another EU country. This means you will spend 1 to 6 months abroad where this programme will benefit you by enabling the transfer of business know-how and building of management skills essential for running a SME.

To find out more about this exciting new programme that has been launched go to: www.erasmus-entrepreneurs.eu/

8. Flying Start  - Shell LiveWIRE Live™

Do you feel you are a unique and successful entrepreneur that could win the Shell LiveWIRE young entrepreneur of the year award for 2009? The award is now open for applications and it is your time to show people why you and your business are the best.

This award offers entrepreneurs aged between 16 and 30, and within the first 18 months of trading, the opportunity to stand out from the crowd and receive a cash injection of £10,000 for their business.

The winner will be announced at the Shell LiveWIRE Live™ event in London on 27th October  where a host of young entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to attend along with some famous faces in a series of workshops throughout the day.

Applications deadline for this award is 11th September 2009.
So log on and submit your application now at: www.shell-livewire.org/awards 

The Entrepreneurship Team: www.westfocus.org.uk/entrepreneurship

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