e-Factor

Saturday, 21 November 2009 00:00

State-of-the-art Academy launched to give youngsters an enterprising start in life

A NEW state-of-the-art academy has been opened in Grimsby to inspire youngsters to become the entrepreneurs of the future.

e-factor’s Enterprise Academy, based at the organisation’s Wellington Street offices, was of officially launched on Friday.

The event was at tended by local councillors, school representatives and enterprise champions and featured a talk by special guest Brad Rosser, the successful Australian entrepreneur and Richard Branson’s former right-hand man.

Speaking at the launch, Simon Mumby, e-factor’s marketing executive, said:

“e-factor is not just about supporting new businesses. It’s also about teaching young people about enterprise and inspiring them to become self-employed.

The new enterprise academy is a state-of-the-art learning facility one of a kind and it has a lot of potential.”

The academy will be used to teach business and enterprise to students
from local schools and colleges. e-factor has already worked with Oasis Academy Immingham and is hoping more schools will come onboard. The academy’s state-of-the-art academy boasts laptops, interactive gadgets, sophisticated business simulation software and web conferencing facilities.

Cara Oakley, E-Factor’s Early Enterprise project manager, said:

“The academy is the jewel in the crown and we will be using the most-up-to-date methods to teach enterprise to young people.”

INSPIRATIONAL TEACHING: From left Peter Skinner, Austrailian entrepreneur Brad Rosser, Pauline Harness & Mark Webb at the launch of the Enterprise Academy at the e-factor centre on Wellington Street, Grimsby

Serial entrepreneur Mr Rosser was asked to attend the launch after meeting Mr Mumby at an enterprise work shop in London. Mr Rosser worked for Australian businessman Alan Bond in his homeland and for Richard Branson at Virgin, before going into business for himself. He now runs the Better, Stronger,
Faster Group, which helps new enterprises in the UK and Australia to get off the ground.

Mr Rosser said:

“We run training programmes for new businesses, point them in the right direction and help them to survive and grow.

“I think e-factor’s Enterprise Academy is a great idea. Anything that helps enterprises to get training and advice is to be commended – it’s not by accident that some businesses succeed and some fail.”