March 2023 Newsletter

New Entrepreneurship Networks Launch

Two brand new networks are being launched by DMU’s Enterprise & Entrepreneurship team for students and graduates. A new Global Entrepreneurs Network in association with the Alumni team and a new BAME Entrepreneurs Network, in association with student spinout Atls Blck.

Global Entrepreneurship Network

DMU’s extracurricular student and graduate entrepreneurship team and the alumni team have come together to launch a brand new Global Entrepreneurs Network, boosting support for students and graduates looking to establish a side-hustle, be self employed or develop entrepreneurial skills to apply within a job role. 

The brand new network has been established in response to feedback from students who undertook a DMU Global Entrepreneurship trip to New York City, in January.   Simon Baines, Entrepreneurship Manager explains “In the last twelve months, we have facilitated sessions for our students involving alumni located in places like Los Angeles, Lisbon, Dubai and most recently New York, and the students have told us there is simply nothing more inspiring than hearing from people who have been in their shoes and now practise entrepreneurialism albeit via their own businesses or implementing these skills within their jobs”. 

The new network means that more students and graduates can benefit in learning from entrepreneurial alumni, with Ask the Entrepreneur sessions, 1-2-1 support available, and a stronger presence from alumni at DMU events like Entrepreneurship Day. 

Pete Williams is a freelance Creative Designer located in New York.  He said: “One of the biggest hurdles I found when I was studying, was figuring out where to start my career once I'd graduated. Exposing students to alumni who walked in their shoes, can really open their eyes to the possibilities that lay ahead of them. Creating an avenue for them to find the right path for them and get ahead of the competition”.

How to get involved

Any alumni interested in joining the network should first register with The Alumni Hub at http://www.dmuforlife.org and then visit the Networks page where they can request to join the Network. Any student or graduate interested in a 121 with a member of the network can contact Enterprise@dmu.ac.uk 

Sarah Thomson, Director of Engagement and Development said “We are consistently impressed and enthused by the contribution that our entrepreneurial alumni, located all around the world, bring to our aspiring students and graduates.   This is the latest of example of fruitful collaboration between the alumni team and the enterprise team within Careers, and I look forward to seeing it develop and grow over time, for the benefit of many”.

A first Ask The Entrepreneur session took place on Thursday 9 March. Entrepreneurs who took part include Yasin El Ashraf, Managing Director of HQ Recording who recently hosted a sold out event in Leicester Innovation Festival and was awarded an Honorary degree at our recent graduates.  A link to watch the event will be available shortly.

On online international accelerator programme is also planned, utilsing the network. Interested students and graduates can register here.

Enterprise Placement Year

This week, participants on the Enterprise Placement Year visited LCB Depot and Leicester Startups. Members of the organisations explained their role in the local enterprise eco-system, whereby they offer Coworking space, accelerator programmes, mentorship and creative networks.

The Enterprise Placement Year is an alternative to a traditional placement, where students have the opportunity to start their own business, with £3,000 financial support, taught lectures and 1-1 business mentorship from the DMUworks Enterprise & Entrepreneurship team. Students learn about the fundamental steps to successfully grow a business and work in self-employment, whilst developing professional skills and improving their business acumen. The year is also credit baring (30 credits).

Applications for the upcoming year have now closed, with interviews scheduled to take place soon.

Latest DMUmade workshops engage 100

More than one hundred students and graduates engaged with our most recent series of DMUmade workshops.

This practical series of workshops saw participants learn about branding, networking and developing business ideas.

The workshops took place in the new SDG hub, located in Heritage House.

More DMUmade workshops will take place in the Spring, covering topics like How to create a Podcast and Getting Started with Canva.

Details will be made available via MyGateway and dmumade.com/take-part

New BAME Entrepreneurs Network

DMU’s student and graduate Entrepreneurship Team is collaborating with DSU, DMU’s alumni team and Melvin Riley, an award-winning student entrepreneur on a new ATLS BLK Entrepreneurship Network.

This brand new event will bring together students, graduates, staff and the local business community to make new connections, learn new skills and hear from entrepreneurs.

The event will launch as part of this year’s Leicester Future BAME Entrepreneurs Programme, which returns after a successful pilot in 2022.  The pilot programme involved entrepreneurial alumni including innovative artist Marcus Dove, and included a one day self-confidence and communication workshop with presenters from KISS FM.  This time, this LFBE programme will be sponsored by the Alumni team at DMU.

Further details will be announced in due course.

Connect at…Hotel Brooklyn: A free, informal event with The Sir Thomas White Loan Charity

Our long-running networking event series ‘Connect’ returns for a new season, kicking off at Hotel Brooklyn on Tuesday 21 March, 12-2pm. These events bring together students, graduates, staff and the local business community to hear from local founders and to informally network and make new connections over drinks.

These events are free and we would love to see staff in attendance.

Registration is open now. Click here!

New date for DMU Entrepreneurship Awards

This year’s Enterprise & Entrepreneurship Awards will now take place later in the year, but we’re still encouraging colleagues to nominate deserving students and graduates in a number of categories. Full details can be found here:.

A new home for enterprise drop-ins

We’re very excited the the opening of the brand new Careers Hub! Located on the ground floor of Hugh Aston, students and graduates who are interested in enterprise and entrepreneurship will be able to drop in and find out more about self-employment, freelancing and entrepreneurship.

We’ll also be hosting various workshops and events in the new space, which Richard Bowden and the Vice-Chancellor officially opened on 7 March, saying “this is a fantastic new space for our student and graduate entrepreneurs, of which there are many!”".

Events taking place this month

As always, our team are hosting a number of free events and workshops for students and graduates to attend. Please do share details of these with your students and contacts:

Understanding The Start-Up Visa: Thursday 16 March, 12.30pm - 1pm: Details and booking link https://mygateway.dmu.ac.uk/students/events/detail/2788819

How to Build Your Own Website: Thursday 23 March, 12.30pm - 1.30pm: Details and booking link https://mygateway.dmu.ac.uk/students/events/detail/2742730

Entrepreneurial Alumni Mixer: Friday 28 April, 5pm onwards. Third year students and those who have graduated this year with an interest in self-employment are welcome to attend. Register interest here: https://mygateway.dmu.ac.uk/form.aspx?id=2786521

Event: DMUmade PopUps

Location: DSU SUsupplies Shop, The Campus Centre

Date and time: Mondays, 10am -4pm

Description: We've teamed up with DSU to host a new, weekly PopUp Shop located in the SUsupplies Shop on the Ground Floor of the Campus Centre. Students who make their own products can apply for a free stall by emailing Andrew Reynolds.

Booking: Students can email opportunities@dsu.ac.uk to express an interest in having a stall.

At the bottom of this website you can play our latest podcast, which features colleagues from DMU’s brilliant alumni team. Please do take a listen!