Here’s what your candidates for Enterprise Section Chair had to say to Label!
Charley Bircumshaw
What are the main points of your manifesto?
- Increasing further engagement across the campus, looking specifically at increasing engagement in halls and looking at the demographic at each year group to provide the right events.
- Building on what has already been achieved this year, we’ve had a great turnout within the section, even with the growth we’ve experienced, it’s still such a new section. I was to be able to manage this growth and create a more of a community atmosphere.
- I want to look at how we started as Enterprise & Employability and now we’ve stripped the name down to just Enterprise, I don’t want the point of employability to be taken away to students. I want the focus to be on what skills we can provide.
What experience do you have that makes you suitable for the role?
I’ve been Marketing Officer for Enterprise for the past year, which has allowed me to start new events, help the growth of some pf the groups within the section for example the Creative Exchange which is just starting up and is going really well. From a marketing perspective I’ve been able to see first-hand what we’ve engaged with best through the content and events we’ve put out. I therefore have a good understanding of what works well and what students want. Away from the section I’m a free-lance designer so client relations and the pains of having your own business are all something I have experienced. I have such a passion and drive as well, as I’ve been as involved as much as I can through being on committees as I was social sec for Falk Egg. I’ve had a good balance of both sides as I’ve had my own business but then also worked hard going through the placement process, getting into a business that I was excited to work for as well.
What initiatives will you put in place which will encourage people to come to enterprise with their ideas?
Something that I’m really passionate about doing is having more of a year targeted approach to enterprise. For example, someone coming in as a fresher, they have different needs and motivations to someone who is just about to leave university. The Next Step session is something I want to introduce for third years, which will be tailored to what to do after university, whether that be starting your own business, networking events or gaining skills.
What guest speaker would you like to come in and why?
Ben Francis – he embodies what Enterprising and entrepreneurial is as he started his own business which has gone into a global brand which is Gymshark; I think the Loughborough community would love that!
If you could be a biscuit, what biscuit would you be?
It’s a hard one! I’d be a jammy dodger, because I have structure on the outside but I’m soft and sweet in the middle.
Emanuele Maccotta
What are the main points of your manifesto?
- Increase the amount of training available to pursue and expand entrepreneurial skills and knowledge.
- Create a strong network that facilitates communication between students and growing businesses.
- Provide more support to allow students to develop their ideas and aid them in starting their venture.
What experience do you have that makes you suitable for the role?
Before coming to Loughborough, I worked with few start-ups in Italy; I also completed an enterprise year for my placement, I had my own social media company, helping other companies with their social media; this all helped me learn what it takes to set up your own business and how I can help other students set up their own business – I’m still running my own company now as well.
What initiatives will you put in place which will encourage people to come to enterprise with their ideas?
Although Loughborough is already doing lots of enterprise, it’s only reserved to some departments; a lot of students which aren’t in the standard enterprise departments don’t have access to the same resources. I want to make sure that all students have access to enterprise support (irrespective of their background), the means to create their own business, and to increase training and bring in more businesses to talk about their own strategies.
What guest speakers would you like to come in and why?
- Mik Cosentino – my mentor, his life goal is to help people to set up his own business; he’s been helping people launch their own businesses for years.
- Yes Theory – a brilliant entrepreneurial channel on YouTube, they challenge themselves to go out of their comfort zone and it would be amazing for them to come in and talk.
- Elena Maria – she didn’t get into uni, worked in a bar until she was 19, studied fashion by what people were wearing in the bar and developed her own fashion line; her story is really inspirational.
If you could be a biscuit, what biscuit would you be?
- Something with layers… Chocolate digestive.
