Award for Lancaster
In 2006, the Centre for Employability, Enterprise and Careers at Lancaster University (CEEC) saw its endeavours in enterprise and entrepreneurship provision recognised by winning the first ever AGCAS Award for Excellence in Enterprise (sponsored by NCGE). Read Director of CEEC, Paul Blackmore's account of how they did it.
More than 550 individuals engaged in the enterprise-related activities delivered and supported by CEEC with over 4,000 learning hours accrued over a 12-month period. Of more significance to CEEC and the University is that this has been achieved without compromising the core services traditionally associated with the role of careers services.
The achievement is even more significant when you consider the limited resources at our disposal as a medium sized institution. In order to develop and deliver these new initiatives without compromising more traditional core areas of provision, we have had to ensure learning opportunities meet the employability needs of as many of our students as possible. Adverse effects on core services are avoided by ensuring that all enterprise and commercial awareness activities are self-sustaining and that CEEC staff mainly take on a co-ordinating role whilst the bulk of the teaching is outsourced to recruiters and business support experts.
What do our students say?
"I am writing to convey my gratitude towards your staff and their recent assistance. I have attended 1-to-1 interviews with the enterprise adviser and also had the benefit of attending the course on commercial awareness. I have never once failed to be totally impressed and gratified at how cheerful, helpful and welcoming all your staff are and continue to be surprised at just how much help they offer and how well they conduct themselves. Please keep doing whatever it is you are doing to maintain such a great quality of service amongst your staff."
2nd Year Psychology student
(creator of ‘media design & consultancy' company and ‘new media' invention)
The areas of provision fall into 3 general areas of activity:
- Education
Extra-curricular and in-curricular workshops; employer and entrepreneur presentations and talks.
- Events and networking opportunities
Including CEEC hosting the North West ‘Yomping the Nations' competition; escorting students to the En Deal Awards (Alan Sugar guest speaking), the NODE conference in Northern Ireland, taking +35 students to the NCGE Flying Start Rally at the City of Manchester Stadium and hosting a conference on creative industries for both educators and students.
- Support and business counselling
1-to-1 advice from business advisers; advertising business planning competitions; information and advice via websites and workbooks; journals and reference materials in the CEEC Information resource.
Enterprise and employability
When we first canvassed the needs of our various stakeholders, it quickly became apparent that the enterprise skills we were helping to develop were not just of interest to those looking to create their own business. Discussions with recruiters in both small and large companies acknowledged that the very same skills were being sought in their own organisations and were actively being assessed in their recruitment and selection processes.
What do employers say?
"The CECA course is a great development which will give Lancaster students a head start in the competition for jobs in the business world or preparing for self-employment. An understanding of business planning combined with the skills to sell your ideas is central to the work of firms like KPMG. Anything which helps develop these skills and encourages a more entrepreneurial approach to business has to be good news." KPMG
For this reason we have worked hard to develop experiential learning activities and facilitate relevant networking opportunities. These have a number of parallel learning outcomes and appeal to all students regardless of their prospective employment context.
For example, business games and learning exercises have been developed that incorporate learning outcomes associated with gaining knowledge of:
terminology
business process
business planning
organisational business functions and how they inter-relate
how such exercises are used by large recruiters in assessment centres business
...and the acquisition of generic employability skills sought by employers such as:
teambuilding
interpersonal skills
self-awareness
problem solving
priority-setting
These can be delivered as stand-alone workshops, as part of discrete extra- curricular programmes (i.e. the Postgraduate Research Employability Skills Programme, and CECA - the Certificate for Enterprise and Commercial Awareness etc.) or as part of career development programmes within departments.
Business start-ups and self-employment
Though designed to cater for all employment destinations of Lancaster University students and graduates, it is inevitable these services are of interest to students wishing to start their own businesses.
Here are just a few examples of the kinds of business start-ups and self-employment opportunities that have been assisted:
backing tracks distribution (e-commerce); IT solutions company (prize winner!); electronic proof reading service (e-commerce, prize winner!); film festival organiser; chocolatier; and corporate-focused wine appreciation classes.
Whilst the provision offered by CEEC is relevant to students of all 3 faculties, it is encouraging to note that there has been a significant take-up by students from the Faculty of Arts and Social Science.
This is an encouraging development as many students wishing to pursue careers in areas such as the performing arts, creative and media industries (amongst others) do not always realise that they will effectively be self-employed and working as ‘freelancers' if they wish to acquire work in these sectors.
Ultimately all of these activities relate to both intrapreneurial AND entrepreneurial career paths. Even if the student or graduate has yet to decide on their ideal occupation, these skill sets will serve them well in any employment context whether it be self-employment or employment in a large or small organisation.
More student feedback...
"Educational & fun!! Not a usual combination :) "
"Never imagined it would be this interactive, informative AND enjoyable!"
"This should be a compulsory part of a degree!"
"Absolutely great! Well worth it. Great experience."
The national award was presented in recognition of developing and establishing best practice in three main areas:
the range and positive impact of activities and initiatives provided in order to encourage the development of enterprise skills, commercial awareness and entrepreneurial attitudes amongst students and graduates;
raising the profile and importance of enterprise skills and entrepreneurship across HE;
encouraging and supporting staff development in order to support the above.
This article first appeared in Phoenix (Autumn 2007).
Watch out on this website for news of this year's awards.
Phoenix Inclusion: autumn, 2008
Bookmark with
Related communities
This Enterprise community is sponsored by
Your message and logo could appear here. Click for more details.
This North West England community is sponsored by
Your message and logo could appear here. Click for more details.