City College Norwich scheme praised by government ministers

Dick Palmer, principal of City College Norwich.

Shaun Lowthorpe Friday, January 27, 2012
8:10 AM

City College Norwich has been praised by the Government for its role in developing a pioneering scheme to help discover a new generation of entrepreneurs.

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Business minister Mark Prisk yesterday launched a new start-up calendar setting out 66 enterprise opportunities in the region throughout the year, the first of which is the official opening of City College Norwich?s Start Up Lounge next Friday.

The ?1m lounge, which contains the latest state-of-the-art computer facilities and access to business advice, is designed to help all 10,000 students learn the business skills needed to help them start their own firms or make them more attractive to employers.

Its launch follows the creation in November of a new ?Gazelle? group by City College and four other UK colleges, comprising private and public sector leaders aiming to help students battling to find work form their own companies capable of quick growth. Yesterday, college principal Dick Palmer, left, spoke at the launch event in London of the start-up calendar, telling an audience of around 250 people that colleges were perfectly placed to help link businesses and students.

?It?s great recognition that City College Norwich has got that first milestone,? Mr Palmer said. ?The real theme is about generating the potential among young people and experience and expertise among existing entrepreneurs.

?Colleges are perfectly placed to do that,? he added. ?Nobody has told us to do this. We created Gazelles as a group of five colleges and we have got 20 entrepreneurs on board nationally.

?In Norwich we have got 50 local entrepreneurs who are going to work for us. It?s getting the message across that colleges are great places to do that job and City College Norwich is at the forefront of doing that.?

The calendar, which is part of a new ?Business in You? campaign, also highlights competitions, conferences, workshops and networking events that could be the kick-start needed to help a new or growing business venture.

Business and enterprise minister Mark Prisk said: ?We want 2012 to be the year of enterprise, where entrepreneurs can unlock their business potential. Enterprise events don?t just take place on one day, or during one week, but they appear throughout the year and across the country. We need to make sure people in the East of England know that there is support and advice available, that it is easy to get, and that it?s on their doorstep.

?The Government is committed to providing more opportunities for businesses to start and grow. We are continuing to increase the number of volunteers through the new national mentoring scheme and have launched an improved business link website. The enterprise calendar is a great addition to our support for business in 2012 and beyond.?

Rajeeb Dey, Co-Founder of StartUp Britain and founder of Enternships.com, said: ?The Enterprise Calendar is about helping businesses go for it. It will shine a spotlight on the broad range of plentiful resources that exist for people wanting to start or grow a business in 2012. This will be a unique asset for small businesses to search for, and find, relevant events in their area and plan their year ahead. The year 2012 promises to be very exciting for enterprise ? never has there been a better time to go for it in business.?

Do you have a business-related story for the Evening News? Call Shaun Lowthorpe on 01603 772471 or email shaun.lowthorpe@archant.co.uk

Source: http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/city_college_norwich_scheme_praised_by_government_ministers_1_1189380

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