Business Students Take National Places as Entrepreneurs-in-Waiting
27/04/2010
The event will take place at the Albert Hall in London
Two young would-be entrepreneurs from the College's Sixth Form Haywards Heath campus, are just discovering that they are about to rub shoulders with some of Britain's most successful business leaders after winning a competition run by the Institute of Directors (IoD) in association with the Inspire Group.
Jack Flower and Jacob Klingstroem, both BTEC National Business students, wrote two of the four winning entries in a contest sponsored by the Sussex branch of the IoD, which asked them "what interests and excites you personally about business?" Jack wrote about his ambitions in global marketing while Jacob focused on the "thrill of competition" and overcoming major obstacles.
The prize for each winner is a free delegate's place at the national IoD Annual Convention to be held on April 28 at the Royal Albert Hall, London. Attended by many of the country's most successful entrepreneurs and corporate leaders, the event will feature inspiring talks from a number of high profile political and business speakers, ranging from Dame Kelly Holmes to Archbishop Desmond Tutu, as well as celebrity film producer Lord David Puttnam, global advertising guru Sir Martin Sorrell and the ultimate boss of HSBC, Stephen Green.
The competition was open to students in Central Sussex College's Crawley and Haywards Heath campuses and East Surrey College, Redhill, as leading colleges in the Gatwick Diamond - a term frequently used to describe the business community that flourishes around Gatwick. The winning entries - which were judged by Nick Handley of IoD Sussex , Suri Araniyasundaran, Deputy Principal at Central Sussex College and Ann-Christine Harland, Vice Principal at East Surrey College - were determined on the students' understanding of modern business and their enthusiasm for the sector.
Gary Anderson, chairman of IoD Sussex, said: "It is inspiring to see two young men with a real grasp of business essentials and to know that we may well be having a glimpse of tomorrow's business leaders. Business and entrepreneurship are the driving forces behind employment and prosperity in this country and - given today's economic climate - it has never been more important to have a generation coming through which will be properly equipped to build and grow successful businesses. I hope that the IoD conference will motivate them to achieve great things."
Nick Handley, for the judges, added: "We have a vibrant business community within the Gatwick Diamond which we hope will continue for many generations. Looking at the calibre of entries generally, and Jack's and Jacob's in particular, it will certainly thrive, for which they deserve congratulations."
The two winners from East Surrey College, Redhill, were Dee Belcher and Richard Harvie, both Foundation Degree in Business students. They will be joining Jack and Jacob at the IoD Annual Convention.
All four students are being notified of their win by letter and Gary Anderson looks forward to seeing them at the Royal Albert Hall on April 28. A further story and photographs will be released following the Convention.
