The event, hosted by the National Association of College & University Entrepreneurs (NACUE) and supported for the second year by Santander, brings together budding entrepreneurs from colleges and universities across the UK for a weekend of inspiration, discovery, networking and practical workshops.
Around 80,000 university students across the UK currently run businesses, according to recent research from Santander, and a quarter of these plan to turn their business into a career when they graduate, highlighting the importance of young entrepreneurs to the UK economy.
Simon Bray, Director of Santander Universities UK said: “It’s so important to support and encourage entrepreneurship, especially amongst young people. Student entrepreneurs are key to the growth and prosperity of our economy and many of them will innovate, define and lead our future.”
The event comes just weeks after the Varkey Foundation published a report analysing the top 500 global firms’ investment in education and calling on business and world leaders to support a campaign to encourage more financial support in this area. The report cites Santander as the leading global contributor with 79 per cent of its corporate social responsibility budget spent on education, equating to approximately £130m.
The Student Enterprise Conference will unite over 800 college and university students with some of the UK’s most innovative entrepreneurs and businesses, including Ella Jade Bitton, 2014 BBC Apprentice candidate, and Julien Callede, Founder and COO of Made.com.
NACUE Chief Executive, Johnny Luk said: “We work with thousands of students every year and they increasingly want to create something that leaves a mark. We’re giving young people the opportunity to engage with not only experienced entrepreneurs and business experts, but some of the most exciting, and successful companies of today.”
