The Scottish Institute For Enterprise Put Student Enterprise Firmly On The Map

Scotland takes centre stage next week, as the Scottish Institute for Enterprise (SIE) hosts their fourth Annual Student Enterprise Summit, 'Be the Brand'; the largest of its kind in the world, in the Caird Hall, Dundee on Wednesday 7th March.

The Summit, hosting 2000 students and professionals, will run from 10am - 6pm, with speakers ranging from performing arts professionals and successful social entrepreneurs to financial masterminds and controversial media figureheads.

Speakers include Alasdair Campbell, former Labour press secretary and Tony Blair's right-hand man who will spin his story of the power of positive PR and media branding; whilst Vicky Featherstone, Chief Executive of the National Theatre of Scotland switches the focus to employability within the arts and cultural industries.

Ann Summers CEO and female business mogul, Jacqueline Gold will also be on hand to tell her story of high street success, along with BJ Cunningham, the man behind Death Cigarettes, who will explain how he strove for business success against all the odds. We will also be joined by Emily Cummins, Technology Woman of the Future 2006, aged only 19.

Sponsor, John Anderson, Chief Executive of The Entrepreneurial Exchange said "The Summit provides a unique opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs and ambitious students to be inspired, learning from incredible role models."

The winners of this year's SIE National Student Business Plan Competition (BPC) will also be announced on the day, battling it out for a share of the GBP50k prize fund.

The SIE BPC gives students access to the knowledge and resources they need to transform their business ideas into a reality.

Sharon Bamford, CEO of SIE said "With more young people than ever entering higher education and increasing international competition, students require a culture of enterprise to equip them for the 21st century work-place. SIE stimulate and encourage the development of this culture amongst students, preparing them for the graduate arena."

Students will also have the opportunity to meet with and learn from successful student start-ups, enterprise support organisations and social enterprise initiatives by visiting the Exhibition Area. The current exhibitor list includes: patent and IP specialists, Marks and Clerk, graduate recruiters, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, and PSYBT and Shell LiveWIRE, who will be on hand to offer students start-up support. Also exhibiting are a number of SIE alumni businesses.