A 2018 Santander report found that a quarter of students currently run, or plan to run, their own company after graduating, with a further third of all students planning to turn their business into a career. Now, some universities are offering mentorships and support programmes to entrepreneurial students – not just those specifically studying business.
The report also shed light on the money behind these booming businesses, revealing that student enterprises collectively generate revenues of £1bn per year.
Importance of Inclusivity
Anglia Ruskin University is just one institution that’s dedicating time and resources to help its students. The university runs an academy which offers seminars, grants, networking events and pitching clinics for students expressing an interest.
Anglia Ruskin also holds an annual competition where students have the opportunity to receive funding for their business plans. The competition acts as a great way to branch out, develop new career interests and attain valuable skills such as tailoring business pitches for audiences.
Marcia Baldry, the enterprise support manager at the academy, highlighted the importance of inclusivity in the programmes: “Students now appreciate that it doesn’t matter what discipline they’re studying; they all have a chance of being entrepreneurial. Setting up a business is no longer a plan – for many, it’s their main aim.”
