Professional Expectations
The Higher Education Academy
Supporting Entrepreneurial Skills Matrix (SESM) - C4
An appreciation of the needs and demands of business support professions improves interaction and promotes positive outcomes in terms of support and development. This session recognises the importance of isolating their requirements and responding to them, as well as promoting the new business appropriately at all time.
Should I speak to other people about it?
"For me. It was crucial to speak to others about my idea. It gave me confidence in my plan and clear presentation structure when targeting potential stakeholders in my business. Whilst studying my MBA at Cranfield and developing my idea I used various contacts. The faculty and lecturers were a great help as were my family and friends. I would say the network of previous contacts that I met through work were very helpful. They challenged me and provided advice and even supplied me with potential investors."
(Zak, Marketing communications)
Where can you develop your skills?
"When I chose to start the university yoga club I knew it would be a good way of developing my skills, it meant I got to learn essential Skills like how to run a meeting , manage my time, market an organisation, get people excited about something etc. Everything you do in life can gives you the opportunity to develop yourself."
(Robert Goodman, Yoga CD entrepreneur)
"Firstly, there are skills you are born with and everyone's different!The ability to multi task and my strong organisational skill are natural and have been developed through my work experience and my degree. However, my Planet Hollywood placement in Paris and my experience with Pizza Express in Tokyo taught me a lot.I would like to share these learnings with you:Appreciate different people and what they have to offer. Never be afraid to ask questions - lose the egoAlways surround yourself with people who know what you don't. Understand your strengths and weaknesses and identify them others."
(Sarah, Restaurant entrepreneur)
"I believe the most difficult hurdle when trying to start a business as a graduate is the pace of the real world. When leaving most courses it becomes clear that there are a number of skills which are vital in this area which cannot necessarily be taught on a course such as confidence, the ability to network or spot an opportunity. It's up to the individual to acquire these skills wherever possible."
(Peter Olaleye, Events management)
Where can I find the right people to aid the business?
"Sometimes you can fall into contact with the right people through friendships, I recognised that my now business partner was excelling in his field and saw that he was a talented individual, this led me to think about what skills I could add to the mix in a business context."
(Tom Savage, Not for profit organisation)
"When I first started the business I couldn't afford to pay freelancers to translate for me. I asked around at university and a number of students were keen to work for me to improve their own CV's.
I had run the business full time during the summer of my second year and the business had really taken off. However, I realised that my university work load was going to increase and I didn't want the business to suffer by disappointing clients. I asked an old friend to become a partner.
As the business grew I had to recruit more people. I got involved with the 'Step project'. Its purpose is to help students find placements and jobs. The project paid for the extra resource and provided the company with a lump sum for taking part. I also tried to recruit staff via the 'Quercus Project'. The purpose of the project was to place graduates from European countries into surrounding countries."
(Daniel Rajkumar, translations)