Ashcroft Enterprise Society is formed to provide city-wide activities

Press release issued: 2 July 2009



From left to right: Professor Lester Lloyd-Reason, Course Director for the BA (Hons) Enterprise and Entrepreneurial Management; Walter Herriot; James Coburn, Acting President of the Society; and Professor Stuart Wall, Leader of Business and Economics
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New society will be a focal point for enterprising students from across Anglia Ruskin University and provide links with Cambridge University

A new society for students of enterprise and associated courses has been launched by the Ashcroft International Business School at a reception in the Ruskin Gallery.

Established by students on the BA (Hons) Enterprise and Entrepreneurial Management degree course, the Ashcroft Enterprise Society, named after Lord Ashcroft, Chancellor of the University, is a society that will bind together all students with an interest in business and enterprise.

Those attending the official reception included representatives from many of the Ashcroft International Business School's course sponsors, and entrepreneurs from the 'entrepreneurs in residence' network. Guests included directors of TTP, Citylife, Melbourn Scientific and Grant Instruments; and leading entrepreneurs such as Amy Mikado, Steve Westcott and Julie Horne.

Attendees were welcomed by Professor Stuart Wall, Leader of Business and Economics, from the Ashcroft International Business School, who introduced the society as 'a great example of the ways in which enterprise and entrepreneurship are being embedded not only within the Ashcroft International Business School, but right across Anglia Ruskin as a whole'.
Acting President of the society, James Coburn, a student on the BA (Hons) Enterprise and Entrepreneurial Management, said:

"The society will provide a focal point for enterprising students across Anglia Ruskin. Activities will include regular lectures from world-class entrepreneurs, networking events and business competitions."

James also welcomed the President of Cambridge Entrepreneurs, the Cambridge University Student Enterprise Society, saying: "We will seek to build upon the very close links we have established with students at Cambridge University to create a city wide enterprise society capable of having maximum impact within the student community of both universities."

The society was officially launched by Walter Herriot, formerly Managing Director of St John's Innovation Centre and Director of the Ashcroft entrepreneurs in residence network.
Walter celebrated the emergence of the society from the BA (Hons) Enterprise and Entrepreneurial Management programme saying:

"This fantastic initiative encapsulates everything that is so exciting about this highly innovative academic programme. Through the entrepreneur in residence scheme, it embeds entrepreneurs within the academic programme in a meaningful way that creates added value for both the students and the entrepreneurs themselves. The Ashcroft Enterprise Society will provide a very effective vehicle to promote student enterprise not only within the Ashcroft International Business School, but across the whole city."

Professor Lester Lloyd-Reason, Course Director for the BA (Hons) Enterprise and Entrepreneurial Management brought the launch to a close saying:

"It is fantastic to see so many senior members of Anglia Ruskin University, sponsor firms, entrepreneurs and students from both universities in the city here together to celebrate the launch of this society. This encapsulates the way in which we are bringing the academic and the entrepreneurial worlds together through this academic programme. The Ashcroft Enterprise Society, building upon these established entrepreneurial networks, will play a major role in helping our enterprising students realise their potential."

The activities of the society will get off to a flying start on 12 October, when the inaugural Annual Ashcroft Enterprise Society Lecture will be delivered by the CEO of the Fair Trade Organisation at Anglia Ruskin University. For more information on the Ashcroft International Enterprise Society, or for further details on the inaugural annual lecture, please contact Professor Lester Lloyd-Reason.
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