Issued: 17/09/08

For Immediate Release

Local Business Experts Kick Start Enterprising Students

Over 60 students at Somerset College took the first steps to learning about business and enterprise with the help of enterprise training company ‘Working Knowledge’ and local business experts from around the South West. This innovative programme called Ride the Wave helps students to understand the thinking, marketing, and presentation of their ideas and products, and two groups successfully won £100 each for their hard work and imagination.

The Working Knowledge Group and local business experts from ADK Ltd and other organisations had students create a product or service, no matter how wacky. Then during the day each group of students went through the process of making their idea a real business, with each group presenting their idea in a Dragons Den fashion.

Design and media business expert, Andrew Knutt from ADK Ltd commented:
"Absolutely fantastic! It is inspirational to see these youngsters acting as a team, presenting their business ideas and responding to the questions and answers business experts gave them. A great day and an excellent way to get the new students to think outside the box and to create real strategies that new businesses are faced with."

College tutor Richard Holt attended the day and said:
"A good and well-structured event that ticked all the boxes with regards to understanding business. The event quickly caught the students’ imagination. We saw individuals excel themselves and discover qualities they did not know they had."

James Lott from Working Knowledge said:
“Ride the Wave seeks to bridge the gap between the world of work and the world of education. The students develop the teamwork, communication, business language, negotiation and presentation skills to succeed in business. These skills will stay with them for life whether they choose to start their own business or work for someone else”.

More events are planned for the coming year at colleges throughout the UK. To learn more visit www.twkg.net/ridethewave .

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Notes to editors

1. Contact Andrew Knutt, ADK Ltd, 0845 602 6729, andy@adk.ltd.uk for business expert information.
2. Contact Richard Holt for student & college information. Richard.holt@somerset.ac.uk
3. Contact James Lott for Working Knowledge information 0870 720 1071 james.lott@twkg.net