News

First course students raise cash for charity

(30 January 2006)

Enterprising new Durham Business School course no hamper to success. Creative juices flowing on a new entrepreneurs course at Durham Business School provided students with food for thought when it came to improving their skills and raising money for a leading children’s charity.

Twelve students have now completed the Business School’s new ‘Key Employee Programme’ – the first of its type in the UK. This is an innovative five-day course launched following funding secured from the County Durham Economic Partnership and One NorthEast. Activities are based around business game techniques developed by the Business School to encourage students to think creatively to solve problems and develop new entrepreneurial skills. During the course, one team has been so enterprising that they have used their new found creative skills to help Children in Need. With an initial £10 note, they came up with the tasty idea of using the money for a deposit on a deluxe food hamper. This was then raffled off, raising £800 for Children in Need. The Small Enterprise Development Team at Durham Business School developed the ‘Key Employee Programme’. It aims to unlock and develop the entrepreneurial potential of key staff working within the region’s SMEs and equip them with new job skills and confidence. Students on the first course came from a variety of jobs, including a senior sales manager for a machinery manufacturer and an 18 year-old office worker. Employers also stand to benefit from the course. Staff will be better motivated and bring a range of new skills into the workplace which company owners will be able to tap into for their own competitive advantage. Jeremy Wright, who heads up the Key Employee Programme, said: “The first course has been a huge success. “It’s highlighted the wealth of entrepreneurial ability within the region’s SMEs and enabled people at all levels to recognise their potential and improve their personal and professional skills. “Employers will also see tangible benefits and recognise the value of a fresh approach to work that the course offers staff.” Harry Coates, owner of H Coates & Son said “My staff have really benefited and have changed beyond recognition. “They now respond to problems positively and are motivated to achieve our business goals and contribute to the future development of the company.” Durham Business School has long been at the leading edge of entrepreneurial thinking in the UK and has called for greater investment in identifying and developing people’s skills in this area. This latest news follows the launch of an MA Entrepreneurship by Durham Business School’s Centre for Entrepreneurship, which offers more formal training. The second ‘Key Employee Programme’ starts at the end of January and consists of five, one-day interactive workshops covering: • General business philosophies and dynamics • Problem solving and ideas’ generation • Developing creative solutions • Understanding ourselves, others and communication techniques • Spotting and exploiting ideas • Managing and completing tasks • Teamwork