Be an Entrepreneur at University – run your own business before you graduate (or just after !)

Although a lot of the talk around education and qualifications is focused on them leading to a specific job or career area, there is one career that doesn’t require anyone to say they will take you on. This is the position of being Self Employed or working for yourself. This is a huge area and covers many occupations from Hairdressing to Building to Barrister and Medical Consultant. Increasingly many universities are recognising this fact and encouraging students to develop business ideas and companies whilst at University. In the south west Plymouth brands itself as the ‘enterprise’ university http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/enterprise whilst other institutions such as Bristol Uni offer a range of support for students to pursue business ideas http://www.bristol.ac.uk/red/students/ .  I realise that entrepreneur is quite a buzz word at the moment, but if you want something a bit unusual then a report on the way that dance provision in the HE sector develops employability and entrepreneurial skills in the student dancer does make fascinating reading ! http://www.palatine.ac.uk/files/723.pdf

Whichever university you are considering it may well have something similar available and is well worth checking out. Look at the National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship website for more info  http://www.ncge.com/home.php.  Business success isn’t limited to a particular degree, university or grade, but a good idea well executed. Other general advice is available from your adviser/tutor or through the links shown on our website page for employment support http://www.connexions-somerset.org.uk/jobs/Jobhuntersguide/Job_Seeking_on_web.html#wfy