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2006-7
Mayor opens Enterprise Week at College
The Mayor of Islington, Cllr Barbara Smith, launched Enterprise
Week across the borough at our Centre for Business, Arts and
Technology on Nov 12.
The event, organised by Islington Council, brought together
employers and education and training providers to showcase the
local career options and support available for young people aged
16-24 in Camden and Islington.
Over 100 young people attended including pupils from Holloway
school and Business students at the College. They all had the
chance to gain advice about how to start up their own business from
organisations such as Inbiz and the Innovation Enterprise Centre as
well as people that had set up their own companies.
There were plenty of competitions too with prizes donated from
organisations that attended. Prizes included four £50 vouchers, an
iPod shuffle and a free 7 day pass at Aquaterra gym.
The main event, ‘The Big Idea’ – a dragon’s den style presentation
- invited for budding entrepreneurs to pitch their ideas for
a new or existing business for a chance to win a £500 grant.
An award ceremony for all prize winners will take place before
the end of term.
One person vying for the money was 17 year old Sabirul Islam,
who started his own successful web design company at 14. He wanted
the grant to help market and publish his own self help book “The
World at Your Feet.” He said that he wants to encourage other
entrepreneurs from minority backgrounds and was feeling confident
about his presentation saying: “It is all about self motivation and
belief.”
College Principal Frank McLoughlin spoke at the event saying:
“The world is changing. There are less than three million unskilled
jobs in Britain today. People today need skills more than ever.
Young people here today could be the business leaders of
tomorrow."
Other events throughout the week have targeted school leavers
from Islington's 10 secondary schools and care leavers as well as
promoting the Council's services to local small businesses.