Haywards Heath Business Students Sample Entrepreneurial Success
17/05/2010
Business students Jacob Klingstroem and Jack Flower spent the day at the IoD conference
Two teenage business students from Central Sussex College's Haywards Heath campus, recently received a big boost to their entrepreneurial ambitions when they became special guests of theInstitute of Directors (IoD) at the IoD Annual Convention, held at the Royal Albert Hall.
Jacob Klingstroem and Jack Flower, both studying BTECs in National Business, won a contest held by the IoD in association with the Inspire Group. Rubbing shoulders with more than 2000 of Britain's top business leaders at the IoD's biggest annual event was the prize.
Keynote addresses by Vince Cable, George Osborne and Peter Mandelson - just days before the election - provided political insight and topical excitement, while a live video link to Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu inspired conventioneers. Indeed, a wide range of speakers from the worlds of business, politics and sport offered comment, wisdom and insight invaluable to anyone just starting out.
Of particular significance to the students was the Entrepreneur's Panel, highly positive about the idea of going into business and offering notebooks-worth of experience, tips and advice on starting up.
Jacob Klingstroem recounted: "At the IoD Annual Convention I learned many things from the guest speakers," and went on to cite ambition, vision, determination and perseverance as the most important, concluding: "You must set yourself business goals, you must be able to reach and exceed them so you use your full potential." Jack Flower recalled: "The IoD convention enthused me to a new and higher level. I found the entrepreneurs' panel an exciting and encouraging debate."
The competition was open to students in Central Sussex College's Crawley and Haywards Heath campuses as well as East Surrey College, Redhill, being leading colleges in the Gatwick Diamond - a term frequently used to describe the business community that flourishes around Gatwick. Jacob and Jack were joined on the day by East Surrey College winners Dee Belcher and Richard Harvie, both Foundation Degrees in Business students. All four were looked after in London by Nick Handley and Neil Tomlinson of IoD Sussex.
"This was a fantastic opportunity for the students to see how exciting and rewarding it can be to found or manage a business," said Nick. Neil added: "The students all came away inspired by the experiences of business leaders who were once just starting out like them but have now achieved great things."
The IoD's competition partner was the Inspire Group. Caroline Wood, Deputy Area Director for Sussex at the South East England Development Agency, which runs the Inspire Group commented: "The South East has a vibrant business community within the Gatwick Diamond, which we hope will continue for many generations. The Inspire Group is committed to promoting stronger links between business and education in the region, and it's great to see an organisation such as the IoD supporting our students and providing them with an opportunity to step into the engine room of British business."
Student Richard Harvie concluded: "I would like to thank everyone involved in making the day possible, especially Nick and Neil, our hosts."
