University of Essex

Enterprise Fellowship Scheme

The aim of the EFS is to support a network of individual stakeholders for the promotion and development of an entrepreneurial culture in the region.

As part of an innovative development at the University, the ‘Enterprise Fellows’ are drawn from industry, government and academia, in the UK and abroad to assist with the development of entrepreneurship research, education, training at the University of Essex.

Context

The provision of infrastructural support through UK Government-funded programmes such as HEROBC, HEIF, the University Challenge Fund, and the regional Collaborative HEIF project, i10, has enabled us to build on these interactions and extend our engagement with national and regional business networks whilst contributing to the regional agenda promoted by the East of England Development Agency (EEDA).

The Rationale

The University of Essex Southend project, the Thames Gateway South Essex project and other developments in the region are concerned with the economic and social development of the region and its potentially significant presence in Europe. One measure of a successful outcome of such projects is the nature, scale and scope of involvement of regional stakeholders in the evolving issues, structures and outcomes of the project.

While there are various ways in which such an involvement can be exploited, the creation of an entrepreneurial culture in the region and an engagement between higher education and other stakeholders for the creation of such a culture, are two attractive options. Such involvement needs also to be shaped and influenced by objective contributions and assessments by external specialists and the creation of networks both within and outside the region. Proper follow-up and cultivation of such activities and networks can only be made to work if they are supported by focused actions that are concerned with the business of regional stakeholders. The organisation of the activities and the dissemination of knowledge allow for such continuity and the establishment of a forum for learning and networking.

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