Press Releases
£10,000 reward: Enterprising UEL students get in business for E-Factor contest
20 November 2006
The E-Factor, an exciting new University of East London (UEL) business plan contest, held its James Bond themed launch party at the UEL Docklands Campus on Friday 17 December.
The new competition is run by the Knowledge Dock, UEL’s enterprise development and support service, to offer business-minded students the opportunity to start up their own company. The winning entrant will receive a £10,000 grant to help transform their entrepreneurial idea into a fully functional business.
Over the coming weeks, UEL students will take part in a range of business skill workshops organised by Knowledge Dock to help them develop ideas and construct 500-word business summaries. Ten finalists will then go on to pitch their ideas to a panel of business experts at the competition's Dragon's Den-style grand finale in March 2007.
Awad Bhenick, President of the UEL Student Entrepreneurs Society, said: “The E-Factor is a really exciting competition for budding entrepreneurs. It’s not just the money; Knowledge Dock will also offer crucial advice, guidance and resources to all of the teams involved, and will help transform the winning idea into a fully operational business.”
On top of the £10,000 grant, the winning entrant will receive a new laptop, mentoring from a top industry professional and a free one-year tenancy at the HotHatch, Knowledge Dock’s innovative business support facility.
Martin Chan, Communications Manager at Knowledge Dock, said: “UEL adopts an extremely proactive strategy in promoting a culture of entrepreneurship amongst our students and the local community. The E-Factor is just one of the many opportunities and services we offer to help students and the local community start-up in business. In developing the E-Factor, we aim to further enhance our reputation as one of the leading universities for entrepreneurship.”
UEL’s Knowledge Dock contributes to the economic and social development of East London and Thames Gateway through provision of a range of business development and support services to inventors, businesses, academics, students and entrepreneurs.
For further information, visit www.knowledgedock.com/efactor
Ends/.
Contact: Patrick Wilson 020 8223 2061 / 07951 797 975
Notes for editors:
The University of East London (UEL) is now a global learning community, with 20,000 students from over 120 countries world-wide. Our vision is to achieve recognition, both nationally and internationally, as a successful and inclusive regional university proud of our diversity, committed to new modes of learning which focus on students and enhance their employability, and renowned for our contribution to social, cultural and economic development, especially through our research and scholarship. We have a strong track-record in widening participation and working with industry. www.uel.ac.uk
The new competition is run by the Knowledge Dock, UEL’s enterprise development and support service, to offer business-minded students the opportunity to start up their own company. The winning entrant will receive a £10,000 grant to help transform their entrepreneurial idea into a fully functional business.
Over the coming weeks, UEL students will take part in a range of business skill workshops organised by Knowledge Dock to help them develop ideas and construct 500-word business summaries. Ten finalists will then go on to pitch their ideas to a panel of business experts at the competition's Dragon's Den-style grand finale in March 2007.
Awad Bhenick, President of the UEL Student Entrepreneurs Society, said: “The E-Factor is a really exciting competition for budding entrepreneurs. It’s not just the money; Knowledge Dock will also offer crucial advice, guidance and resources to all of the teams involved, and will help transform the winning idea into a fully operational business.”
On top of the £10,000 grant, the winning entrant will receive a new laptop, mentoring from a top industry professional and a free one-year tenancy at the HotHatch, Knowledge Dock’s innovative business support facility.
Martin Chan, Communications Manager at Knowledge Dock, said: “UEL adopts an extremely proactive strategy in promoting a culture of entrepreneurship amongst our students and the local community. The E-Factor is just one of the many opportunities and services we offer to help students and the local community start-up in business. In developing the E-Factor, we aim to further enhance our reputation as one of the leading universities for entrepreneurship.”
UEL’s Knowledge Dock contributes to the economic and social development of East London and Thames Gateway through provision of a range of business development and support services to inventors, businesses, academics, students and entrepreneurs.
For further information, visit www.knowledgedock.com/efactor
Ends/.
Contact: Patrick Wilson 020 8223 2061 / 07951 797 975
Notes for editors:
The University of East London (UEL) is now a global learning community, with 20,000 students from over 120 countries world-wide. Our vision is to achieve recognition, both nationally and internationally, as a successful and inclusive regional university proud of our diversity, committed to new modes of learning which focus on students and enhance their employability, and renowned for our contribution to social, cultural and economic development, especially through our research and scholarship. We have a strong track-record in widening participation and working with industry. www.uel.ac.uk
