Entrepreneurs ready to join the worldwide party (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Entrepreneurs ready to join the worldwide party

8:37am Wednesday 11th November 2009 in Business By Chris Holland

Bradford Kickstart and its partners across the district have organised a variety of events for Global Entrepreneurship Week, which runs from next Monday to the following Friday.

Last year this international celebration of enterprise attracted more than three million people to 25,000 events in 77 countries. In Britain, around 644,000 people turned up to at least one of the 6,363 events held across the country. Rowland Egege who, with Bobby Singh, runs award-winning Pro-Active Sports from the Park Lane business centre near Manchester Road, Bradford, said: “If you have ambition and determination then Kickstart will help you to start your own business or social enterprise in the Bradford district.”

A full list of events taking place in Bradford and Keighley during Global Entrepreneurship Week can be found on the back page of this supplement.

They include several organised exclusively for women by Kickstart partner Digitalife, which is based at the Carlisle Business Centre, Manningham.

In Keighley, finalists in the Biz Factor will pitch their business ideas to a panel of successful local business people in the style of Dragon’s Den – but less intimidating.

This event has been arranged by Keighley College in association with Airedale Enterprise Services.

Bradford College photography students will work as volunteer street photographers every day next week, offering to take people’s pictures in return for a donation to the Marie Curie cancer care charity.

Hairdressing students at the college will provide fashion cuts and styling at the Three Valleys Beauty Centre, Keighley, while students studying computer technology will offer desktop or laptop repairs at the Victoria Building in Thornton Road, Bradford, for as little as £5.

The special week will also see the launch of the Bradford and District Disabled Enterpreneurs’ Network, with guest speaker Stephen Collins.

Organised by Bradford Council’s Business Enablement Project, the network will give disabled entrepreneurs opportunities to discuss issues of concern, exchange experiences and obtain helpful information. Bradford Chamber will host the launch of a Business Women’s Network at the Dubrovnik Hotel, Manningham, during the week. A ‘Swap ’Til You Drop’ Swishing Party, organised by women’s enterprise specialists Digitalife, is billed as ‘a fantastic fusion of fashion, pampering and ethical enterprise’.

And a fun day organised by Accent Community Partnerships at the Accent Business Park in Bark-erend Road will encourage entrepreneurs to develop small business or social enterprises.

Digitalife will present a private screening at the Alhambra Theatre studio of the inspiring GLOW Project movie. This shows women how to overcome daunting challenges and achieve their full potential in business. An interactive Digitalife event will look at how smart digital media and flexible working options can enable women to become entrepreneurs and business leaders. There’s even an event for ‘ladies who lunch and speed-network’.

Bradford entrepreneur Steve O’Brien will give a global perspective on local business at an event organised by the GRID@CBC business centre in Manningham.