The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Dundee’s Business Week looks to inspire future entrepreneurs
Inspiration: Make it Happen conference to encourage start-ups
A conference designed to inspire students and business owners to ‘Make it Happen’ is a highlight of this year’s Dundee Business Week.
Record-breaking cyclist Mark Beaumont and business leaders will relay their experience and advice to S5 and S6 pupils, college and university students and local business people at the event.
The conference has been organised by Business Gateway in conjunction with the Centre of Entrepreneurship at the Dundee University and Elevator.
Brian McNicoll, enterprise and entrepreneurship manager of Dundee University, said: “It is shaping up to be a truly inspirational event where you will be able to hear from high quality speakers who will provide all of the insight and encouragement to take your entrepreneurial aspirations to the next level.
“Events of this calibre continue to demonstrate the burgeoning entrepreneurial scene in and around the Dundee area at a very exciting time in the history of the city.”
The conference takes place on February 21 at the university’s Dalhousie Building.
Mark Beaumont, who is the university’s rector, will speak about how he overcame numerous obstacles during his 18,000-mile record-breaking world-wide cycle.
He aimed to circumnavigate the globe in 80 days and completed the journey in Paris on day 79.
Founder of Perth-based outdoor gear supplier Team Magnus, Kristine Moody, and Social Stuff MD Collette Norval will also speak at the event, which will be hosted by Gavin Oattes of Tree of Knowledge.
Andrew Burnett, operations director of Business Gateway, said: “This conference is showing the business leaders of the future that upon leaving education there are real career options available to them including selfemployment.
“Our speakers have been specially chosen as they are motivational and knowledgeable in this field and will demonstrate that you can achieve your goals.
“At Business Gateway we work closely with local business owners throughout their journey and we hope that many of the students present at this event will seriously consider developing their entrepreneurial skills into fulfilling careers.”
Business Gateway is also running a competition for any primary or secondary school pupils in Tayside.
Pupils are invited to submit a 60second video pitch outlining what they would do to help young people prepare for the world of work.
Make Your Pitch Happen is funded and supported by Developing Young Workforce Dundee and Angus and Perth and Kinross. Five finalists will pitch live at the conference with the winning school receiving £1,000.
It is shaping up to be a truly inspirational event. BRIAN MCNICOLL