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4 Sep 2006 10:35:09
Jenny Stake’s culinary business idea landed her on a ride to remember when she was a finalist in a top business competition last month.
The 25-year-old University of Bedfordshire student found herself presenting a three-minute pitch to judges in a pod on the London Eye. She was among ten finalists in the i10 Innovators competition with her business plan for a healthy-eating café in Luton. She finished runner-up, scooping a £100 prize.
i10 Innovators is a business plan competition for students and staff of the 10 universities in the East of England.
Jenny said: “I was delighted to be in the finals, but worried about presenting on the London Eye as I thought it would be really distracting – but it was much better than I thought, even though the other contestants were there as well as the judges. It was a novel place to hold the final.”
The student surprised herself with her successful plan as she doesn’t have a business background. But Jenny was inspired by the annual Basics of Building a Business (B3) lectures held at University of Bedfordshire where she is studying for an MSc in Psychological Approaches to Health and Management. She is also studying for a diploma in nutrition.
She added: “I went along to the lectures for budding entrepreneurs and I was inspired. When I moved to Luton, I discovered there was nowhere to eat healthily, there’s only fast food. So I wrote my business plan for ‘The Souper’, my healthy eating café idea, and entered the awards. I was surprised to be a runner-up as I have no background in business.
“It has really given me the confidence to think about starting up the business next year when I have finished my studies, as I feel I’ve found a gap in the market. My Masters, Diploma, and my new business knowledge will allow me to be a nutritional therapist and have my own business. It’s very different from geography, which was my first subject.”
Jenny, who is originally from Sweden, has been in the UK for seven years. She will now be looking for funding, premises and a business mentor for 2007.
The University of Bedfordshire’s Basics of Building a Business kicks off for its fifth year on 12 October. With a new speaker line up, including just a sprinkling of old favourites, the one-hour lectures will be presented by successful entrepreneurs in the field, providing an invaluable insight into building a business from people who are 'doing it' rather than just talking about it.
This year the series has attracted successful ex Dragon’s Den investor and serial entrepreneur Doug Richard, who will present a lecture on ‘How to sell yourself, your ideas and make money'.
Figures show that the knowledge hub has helped businesses and attracted many entrepreneurs from a whole range of backgrounds and ages. Over the last four years the series has attracted over 2,400 attendances and each year it culminates with a Business Concept Competition called the i-Factor. This year the competition rewards will be greater than ever, with a first prize package of £2,000 and runners-up prizes totalling a further £1,000.
Latest news» 2006» Sep» University lectures help student develop winning eye for business
