Search on for future travel entrepreneurs
Tuesday, 09 Dec, 2009
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A call is being made for students to enter a new competition to win the chance to put their travel and tourism business ideas into action.
Run by Enterprise UK, Start Up: Travel and Tourism challenges further education students to submit their ideas for a tourism business in their local area.
All entrants meeting the initial criteria will then have the chance to learn more about how to translate their ideas into reality through ‘stepping stones’ classroom-based interactive workshop sessions designed to help them develop marketing and finance plans, which will be judged along with their idea at the next stage of the competition.
Judges will choose one winner per region, who will each receive £500 to run their business for real between March and June.
Students will then have the opportunity to present their results at a major industry event in July, with prizes for the winners including everything from work experience placements to an overnight stay at an eco-destination.
The deadline for competition entries is December 18, with ‘stepping stones’ taking place in January and February. Winners will then be selected and businesses run between March and June 2010, with presentations and awards in July 2010.
Start Up: Travel and Tourismis open to teams of students studying courses up to Level 3, co-ordinated by a tutor. Enterprise UK will providing resources, a website and support, including speakers to visit.
Supporters of the competition include travel and tourism entrepreneurs such as Tom Marchant, co-founder of award-winning travel firm Black Tomato; Sally Broom, founder of Tripbod; Ben Keane, founder of Tribewanted; and Laura Greenman, director of Eco-escape.
Marchant said: “Competitions like this were not available when I was studying.
“As an entrepreneur, I welcome anything that gives people hands-on experience and it is great to see college students being given the opportunity to start a business in an area they are passionate about.”
Enterprise UK chief executive Scott Cain said: “The UK has already established a strong track record in travel and tourism entrepreneurs and we’re sure that there a plenty of FE students out there with the ideas and drive to rival them.
“We’re really looking forward to seeing the fantastic ideas that the entrepreneurs of the future come up with and the results their businesses produce.”
*For more information or to sign up to the competition, please call Luc Benyon on 020 7430 8071, email [email protected] or visit www.enterpriseuk.org/get_involved/startup_travel_tourism
Phil Davies
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