Students Showcase Innovation and Ingenuity in Unique Entrepreneurship Event

What business would you pitch for?

In something reminiscent of the BBC's Dragon's Den (with some added extras), our Honours Programme students were tasked with answering that very question in a creative entrepreneurship challenge.

The Entrepreneurship event was organised by Personal & Guidance Tutors Leigh O'Mahony, Chas Knight and Mike Crosby, in conjunction with Liverpool John Moores University and staff from the LJMU Centre for Entrepreneurship, with a view to developing the entrepreneurial, business acumen, critical thinking and decision making skills of our students.

Inside a bustling drama studio, some 16 groups gathered to showcase their business plans and hoped to secure 'crowd-funding' from special guest judges, teachers and other students.

A team from Liverpool John Moores were joined by successful local entrepreneurs Dean Ward of Evoke Creative, Steve Cruden from Santander and Rebecca Knight of Hair & Beauty by Rebecca, to judge the offerings, and the level of ingenuity and innovation from our students was roundly applauded by all sides.

Head of the LJMU Centre for Entrepreneurship, Emma Robinson said: "I've been teaching entrepreneurship for over 12 years and today I heard at least three ideas that I've never come across before, and believe me, I've heard everything! Some of the businesses on show here have really got potential!"

Dean Ward, technical director at Evoke, an agency that helps brands engage with customers in creative ways, said: "A lot of the groups had thought of everything, from the initial concept through to how to market themselves, who their competitors were and all the costs involved.

"There were some ideas that were quite 'out there', quite different, but always very considered and some were just brilliant. My favourite was the eventual winners ‘Eat Me, Drink Me, Read Me’, they really deserved it. I was so impressed!"

The winning team, ‘Eat Me, Drink Me, Read Me' were a café-cum-library with a pun-tastic menu including 'The Catcher in the Rye Bread' and 'Scone with the Wind'. The team, consisting of students Amelia Jones, Georgina Carolan, Jack Hirons, Lucas Frampton and Zoe Laufer, even baked their own bread to offer out sandwiches to hungry would-be customers.

Others groups  included 'Gift Wrap' who help you choose presents for friends and family when you don't know where to start, a bespoke smoothie-making vending machine company, a Hangover Clinic inspired by a London celebrity trend, and a locker storage business offering somewhere to store your bags and coats after a hard day shopping or before a hard night clubbing.

The event was an overall success and will be rolled-out with more students being able to take part and pitch their business ideas.

Entrepreneurship Event Jan '16