How much can be gained by combining the learning from commercial and social entrepreneurs? As we face enormous issues globally the opportunity to build sustainable businesses within sustainable communities is paramount. What do you think?

Numbers looking really good for corporate entrepreneurship and innovation event

http://www.ncl.ac.uk/nubs/about/news/item/launch-of-our-new-perspectives-series-corporate-entrepreneurship

Keep your eyes on this blog for updates on a fascinating event at Newcastle University November 16th

I have noticed recently the re-emergence of interest in two apparently unrelated topics i.e. social enterprise and corporate entrepreneurship. Whilst they may seem to be at opposite ends of the continuum the challenges facing many social enterprises spinning out of the NHS are very similar to those faced in some models of corporate entrepreneurship.

It it four days before Christmas and the world (certainly the UK) seems to be moving into blame mode. I spent the last 45 minutes driving back to the office and the constant theme on the radio was blame. Sadly the pre-occupation of journalists and radio presenters was to force up the ‘who can we blame’ agenda – I presume in the false hope that this creates increased audience numbers. OK so we have had catastrophic consequences in terms of travel – but the constant search for someone to blame is nauseous. Let’s blame the airport operators, or the airlines, or the train companies, or the government, or local government, or the bankers, or at lunchtime the doctors for maybe making a wrong decision. maybe everyone ready to cast the next stone should take a quick look at their own performance as a manager, partner, parent, teacher, etc before casting the blame upon other members of the community we share. We are actually quite similar to each other so we need to know that when we blight others we are also blighting ourselves.

In terms of this blog – this is also very worrying for those of us who would like to see the emergence of an enterprise culture – is there a slow but sure move to become even more blaming – if so this is very worrying and the antithesis of the Coalitions hopes for a Big Society.

Let’s knock it on the head shall we?

D

I thought this was an interesting observation of networking and the need to chat to anyone (almost).

Doug Richard Comments

Entrepreneurs are individuals, but success derives from team work – recent events in the boardroom have shown quite clearly how divided teams achieve very little. Let’s keep an eye on the ability of these apprentices to deliver the goods through harmony and communication.It will be a good test for those who believe in team work versus those who believe in serving one’s own interests at the expense of everyone else.

Working with our close partners Innovas, we have just been appointed to support Welsh Assembly Government in evaluating the impact of their Dynamo Role Models approach to entrepreneurship education. This certainly got us thinking again about the difference between enterprise education and entrepreneurship education – any thoughts or definitions?

The report below provides an excellent introduction and overview to the whole process of enterprise education and has some very useful signposting.

A guide to enterprise education: For enterprise coordinators, teachers and leaders at schools.

We here so much about the importance of enterprise, and how we in the UK support it is going to be one of the issues central to the election debate. But who are the real catalysts of enterprise?

• Is it the government – they do play a role in facilitating enterprise? In reality it can’t be the government, but it could be certain members of the government if they believe and support enterprise passionately and skilfully. Who could it be and why?
• Is it the education system – how much impact can education have? Again it is probably focused upon specific teachers, managers and students – all of who have a massive role to play – but only certain ones are liable to be the real catalysts of enterprise. Who could it be and why?
• Is it the people who decide to become self-employed and create their own businesses – are they the real drivers of enterprise? Who are the people whose enterprising mind and behaviour set drives the UK’s economy?
• What about the public sector – Business Links, RDA’s, Local Authorities, Enterprise Agencies etc – who is it that makes a difference?

The Enterprise Catalyst itself plays a part, but lets find out who the real catalysts of enterprise are and accolade their contribution and success!!!