UCLan’s School of Engineering launches EASE - a new entrepreneur initiative for students

Starting in October 2021, we’ll be providing business start-up workshops, entrepreneur-led masterclasses and employer challenges, alongside networking and award celebrations.

Opening the event, Emma Speed, the Director of Creative Innovation Zone and Enterprise, said: “It is all about bringing together people who think differently, we have mixed disciplines from the School of Engineering, and it is really important that they share their ideas.”

She added: “We really hope that for the long-term they will look at becoming entrepreneurs in their own right and set up their own companies.”

Students who complete the initiative will also receive a University endorsement award, officially recognising their extra-curricular work.

Partnered by the Creative Innovation Zone, Propeller and UCLan Careers, the main goal is to prepare our student engineers for the challenges of employment, and to showcase the opportunities they have available to them.

Currently, we have over 65 students involved from multiple diverse backgrounds - 25% of which were women and included students from a Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) background; including individuals with disabilities (both physical and learning).

The EASE Zone, funded by the School of Engineering, will also help students prepare for immediate employment after their university courses finish.

The entrepreneur masterclasses feature business etiquette, self-branding and skill workshops in presentation, CV writing and job interviews.

Masters design student, James Grearson, 23, who has a work placement, said he hopes the project will help him develop more confidence speaking to others and give him the chance to assist people in a team.

The EASE Zone will look to create impact across the school benefitting student experience, employability and engagement with extra-curricular enterprise activities.

Article written by Jack Thompson.