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Enterprising student’s journey to mastering the art of teaching and painting
The partnership between BG Futures, the Careers, Employability and Enterprise department at Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) and the Prince’s Trust continues to flourish with another of our students benefiting from the Prince’s Trust Enterprise Programme, which helps 18 to 30-year olds turn their big ideas into a business reality. Sarah Moseley, Enterprise Development Manager at BG Futures spoke to 1st year BA (Hons) Education Studies (SEDS) student Laurent McCready about how the Princes Trust webinar has helped him with his ideas for an Interior and Exterior Painting & Decorating Business. Laurent explains: “My degree choice was as a result of 3 years of voluntary work coaching primary school age children hockey for my Bronze, Silver and Gold Duke of Edinburgh award. I felt the children connected with me and I enjoyed the sessions. Following 2 weeks of work experience at St Peters in Eastgate primary school I decided that I wanted to go into teaching as a career.” Teaching is very different to painting & decorating so what is the connection? “I also really enjoy painting and decorating and feel confident doing it, having started about a year ago. I heard about the Princes Trust webinar via a notification on my BGU account and decided to take part. I have now developed my knowledge of how to set my own business up. The most useful part of the webinar for me was being encouraged to talk about the idea and learning the key aspects such as taxation and national insurance, as well as being able to ask questions. I see my biggest challenge is to actually brave up and start the business. The next step is to do this once I have conducted a little more research about gaining customers and my competitors” Laurent is already succeeding in balancing his University work, position as a Student Ambassador, part time work at the Doubletree by Hilton, and his role with NCS running workshops with older children leading to a community-based project. When asked what the future may hold Laurent said: “Currently my training to become a primary school teacher comes first, however this may differ if I set up my own business and if that happens, I hope to be running Duvalsdecorating (Duval being my middle name) and perhaps a couple others!” To see Laurent’s painting & decorating projects follow duvalsdecorating on Instagram. Contact sarah.moseley@bishopg.ac.uk to discover more about the work of the Enterprise Team at BG Futures Explore BGUs range of Undergraduate and Postgraduate Teaching programmes For further details of The Prince’s Trust programme contact John Holliday on 07766 778341 -
BGU Master's Students Plan Expansion for Social Care Business
As the world continues to grapple with the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, it is reassuring to note that despite so much uncertainty and bad news some businesses are not only surviving, but thriving.EarlyBird Lifestyle Support (EBLS), an award winning, friendly well-being service, has found the pandemic presented the opportunity to expand their workforce and move into a larger office space within BG Futures Business and Enterprise Centre at Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU). Originally based in a smaller unit within the Centre, EBLS, created and run by BGU students Damian Taylor (MA Health and Social Care Leadership) and Neil Martin (MA Education with TESOL) prides itself on striving to empower the most vulnerable in society to lead the life of their choosing.Damian expands:“We support people throughout the city of Lincoln and surrounding areas with tasks such as cooking, cleaning, collecting prescriptions and medication, food shopping, trips out, escorting individuals to appointments and more.We work with many groups left most vulnerable due to COVID-19, primarily our older clients but also younger individuals suffering from mental health or other disability related problems.Ultimately our team works to promote independence for vulnerable people, allowing them to lead their choice of lifestyle. That choice can be so easily lost at times like this and I’m proud to think we’re helping them to keep some level of freedom.”Damian explains that the success of EBLS is owed to his dedicated team of support professionals:“I’d like to thank all our staff for their hard work during this time. Their enthusiasm and professionalism haven’t dropped once. They’re truly the backbone to the business, and we wouldn’t be where we are today without them.We are also delighted to announce the appointment of Alex Aslan, who has also completed the MA Health and Social Care Leadership, as our new Care and Services Manager who has a wealth of knowledge in this field. This means our service can grow even bigger and reach a larger demographic of people within Lincolnshire and also supports us to now enter the world of running regulated services.”On moving into a bigger office space, Damian hints at EBLS’s next venture: “A larger office will allow us to expand our workforce, provide more support in the community and presents the opportunity to increase revenue and to create stronger connections in the network. The larger space provides practical solutions to social distancing guidance, so we are able to hold inductions and training sessions in a safe environment to ensure our service runs safely.We are almost at the end of the registration period for the Care Quality Commission which means we will be able to include other vital services to our remit. We are currently recruiting for a new apprentice administrator and applications are still open for support worker roles.”Support from EarlyBird is available to anyone in Lincolnshire and the surrounding area, to find out how they can help you can visit their website, or get in contact via email or phone on 01522 424161.Damian added:“The team at the BG Futures Business & Enterprise Centre have been such a vital service & support network for us. They really did go above and beyond to help us in our start-up journey and the most exciting thing is that we have been able to support the centres vision by incorporating our business to widen the support to students. We have supported the BA Health and Social Care with work experience placements and offer voluntary opportunities to all students who would like to get involved, we are also happy to offer mentoring to students seeking an insight into business and would strongly welcome any students of the University to come and get involved in what we do. For example: be it students from drama who would like to put on a show for our vulnerable service users or those in the field of social sciences wanting to further understand mental health, disability or aged care, we really do welcome and encourage collaborative working”Damian and Neil are the one of the many success stories to emerge from the BG Futures Business and Enterprise Centre at Bishop Grosseteste University. If joining our community of start-up businesses appeals to you find out more on our website or contact the BG Futures team. -
Student turns troubles into truffles during lockdown
During the Spring Lockdown Becca Taylor, a first year BA (Hons) Sociology student at Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU), thought that baking cakes for her family and friends might give them something to smile about. Little did she know that this would sow the seed for a lucrative business venture. As Becca explains, her plans looked like they might fall at the first hurdle: "I went to buy ingredients and found the shelves empty of flour and eggs but I still wanted to send a gift to our families as we couldn’t see them much" Undeterred Becca realised she could buy what was needed to make truffle treats instead. After positive feedback and a request to make more Becca experimented, tasted and tested and before she knew it 'Taylor’d Truffles' was born. As we enter Global Entrepreneurship week, the world’s biggest celebration of entrepreneurship, Sarah Moseley, Enterprise Development Manager within BG Futures caught up with Becca. When asked what key piece of advice she had for BGU students with fledgling enterprises, Becca said: "Do your research first. It pays off to get everything you need together such as registrations, paperwork etc. all the boring stuff done and ready for opening. It makes the process much more organised and professional. Ideally, post-graduation, I would like the business to have grown and be successful enough for it to be run on a full-time basis." Last month Taylor’d truffles received the highest-level Food Hygiene Rating meaning customers can order with confidence that all food safety and hygiene guidelines are followed. Taylor’d Truffles have seen an increase in orders since Lockdown 2.0 and are now taking preorders for Christmas which will be dispatched using Royal Mails first class service. To find out more about Taylor’d Truffles: Facebook Instagram www.taylordtruffles.com taylordtruffles@outlook.com If you are a BGU student running your own enterprise, or have an idea that you need support with developing, our Enterprise Team within BG Futures would love to hear from you. Contact sarah.moseley@bishopg.ac.uk Tel 01522 563817 -
BGU Graduate’s Café Project to Offer a Future to Young People in Skegness
At the start of the year the impact of the pandemic on the education of children in Skegness was featured by Sky News*. Enterprise Development Manager, Sarah Moseley, chatted with Ruth Campbell, who graduated from Bishop Grosseteste University in 2020, as she embarks on a new venture to support young people in the area. The project, Café YOU (You Opportunity Union), aims to support young people who might have missed other opportunities to grow their skills as Ruth explains: “I have a background of working with young people and have always been passionate about youth work and concerned about those who fall through the gaps and miss opportunities to grow and develop. Whilst I was at BGU I started working on an idea for a youth project which I called Youth Opportunity Union (YOU). The vision is to support NEET young people aged 16-19 to get back on track, through short courses and work experience.” After highlighting a suitable premises, the BA (Hons) Professional Studies in Childhood and Youth graduate completed a business proposal and, following a successful pitch to the board of the Charity at The Storehouse, North Parade in Skegness, Ruth took over management of a coffee shop at the end of 2020. Lockdowns and restrictions have inevitably slowed progress, but the base will enable the delivery of vocational education and work experience along with the provision of courses, qualifications and a small group environment for learning. Ruth has registered with the awarding body ASDAN, so young people who access the project are able to work towards qualifications whilst gaining work experience. Ruth’s vision, COVID-19 and restrictions permitting, is for the project to grow, for Café YOU to be fully run by young people, and to be able to welcome customers back in: “I want the community to use this space to their advantage. We can arrange a safe space for 1:1 work for professionals; tables can be booked, and we have allocated space for groups to meet. There is even a soft play area for little ones to enjoy. Currently we could be operating as a Takeaway but the Storehouse has recently become a Covid-19 vaccination Centre.” When asked what advice she has for students and graduates wanting to start their own enterprise, Ruth had this to say: “Start small! I am so passionate about what I want to do that I can get carried away and take on too much. I have learned to work realistically within my own capabilities even if it’s frustrating at times! To accept help and advice. There is usually more than one way to achieve what you need to, and it is always worth listening to people who might know more than you do. Stay true to your vision. The clearer you are about your ultimate vision, the end goal, the easier it is to stick with, and for it to make sense to other people. Believe in it yourself and your confidence will attract others to your idea. It can be hard not to get swept along with other people’s ideas for your business/project, but when your vision is clear it makes it easier not to get side-tracked “. To find out more about YOU visit their: Website Facebook page Instagram *View the full Sky Feature here If you are a BGU student or alumni running their own enterprise, or have an idea that needs shape, our Enterprise Team within BG Futures would love to hear from you. Contact sarah.moseley@bishopg.ac.uk Tel 01522 563817 -
New virtual enterprise room provides first step for entrepreneurs at BGU
In January the Enterprise Team within BG Futures re opened their student enterprise room…in a virtual capacity. Sarah Moseley, Enterprise Development Manager explains: “National lockdowns and the ‘stay at home directive’ have led us to consider innovative ways to support our self-employed / entrepreneurial students and graduates. At the end of January, we held the launch event for the collaborative enterprise space via MS Teams. In the context of their business / enterprise / idea, attendees were asked to come prepared to give a brief overview if their business / idea, their very own ‘top tips’ for starting a business, and to share barriers to progression. We believe that our own BGU student’s and graduate’s experiences can offer a great many rich learning points; not just for their fellow entrepreneurs, but for ourselves as professional support staff.” Cassie Rainey, Enterprise Advisor added: “This is a safe and supportive environment where our students and recent graduates are given the opportunity to engage with like-minded people. We are keen to unearth common themes and to identify specific areas of support so we can tailor future sessions.” Initial responses to the session have been overwhelmingly positive with feedback from participants of “Great to chat with everyone and see how we can help each other” “Really good to meet other students wanting to start their own businesses” The next session will take place on Wednesday 24th March at 7pm – 8pm via MS Teams. We will be joined by Mikey, Student Enterprise Coordinator at the University of Lincoln who administers the Growing Graduate Enterprise scheme. This will be of particular interest to anyone who has graduated within the last 3 years or is due to graduate this summer and is thinking of starting a business in Greater Lincolnshire. On hand will be George Hughes, BGU Graduate of 2020 who made a successful pitch for £5000 for his venture. Email sarah.moseley@bishopg.ac.uk for the link to the session. To keep up to date:Check the Student & BG Futures portalsFollow us on Twitter Like us on FacebookConnect with us on LinkedIn -
Business and Enterprise Centre to Re-Open with New Support Offer for Students
As the UK moves to step 3 of the roadmap out of lockdown, the BG Futures team at Bishop Grosseteste University are delighted to announce that the Business & Enterprise Centre will reopen its doors on Monday 17 May. As part of the re-opening the Centre's Student Enterprise room will be available to book for student-led groups to use. Bookings can be made for a University society, Enactus group or an individual quiet space for students to work on their enterprising idea, business start-up or volunteering position. The facilities are open to view to all students when they are next on campus. Bookings can be made by emailing jennifer.jenkins@bishopg.ac.uk a few days in advance. The room will normally be available Monday – Friday between 9am – 4.30pm Sarah Moseley, Enterprise Development Manager at BG Futures, discussed the team's motivation for opening up the facilities and what benefit they hoped students could expect: "The opening of the Business and Enterprise Centre and the return to on campus teaching has allowed us to consider how our facilities can be utilised to enrich the student journey. Access to the Enterprise room provides the perfect opportunity for small groups of students to work collaboratively, or individually in a safe space. Our centre has not been the same without the hubbub of tenants and students. Myself and the rest of the team cannot wait to welcome people back in person." Erin Bell, Bishop Grosseteste Students' Union President, shared her excitement at the opportunities on offer to the student community: "Having the Enterprise room available to students is a great opportunity for them to have somewhere they can safely and privately meet and can act as a nice introduction to the BG Futures team and give insight into the amazing support they can provide students throughout and after their time as students. It’s amazing that our campus can facilitate such a variety of social and study spaces for our many students’ individual needs, and I think making this space available will add to the collaborative and communal nature of BGU. " To create your own successes in our collaborative learning community, visit our website, speak to a member of our Enquiries Team or join us on one of our Open Days. -
Student Recruitment Team Awarded Accolade by Partner School
The Student Recruitment and Widening Participation Teams at Bishop Grosseteste University have been awarded ‘Employer of the Year’ by Sir Robert Pattinson Academy, one of their local partnership schools. The teams work with students in Years 9-13 in schools and colleges nationally to help highlight opportunities in Higher Education. All their services, which include presentations, guest lectures, visits to the university campus and structured Widening Participation Programmes, are free of charge to both students and schools. As highlighted by the school while giving the award, which recognises partner organisations that go above and beyond for the School’s students, this wide ranging approach, coupled with a drive to support, was one of the things that put BGU above its peers: "This year’s winner have taken part in our Post 16 Pathways Market Place, spent the day with us carrying out mock interviews with our Year 11 students. They invited our whole Year 9 cohort to their campus for a day of activities, worked with the Academy delivering a multitude of workshops to students in Years 9-13 including their First Step/Next Steps programme. Always willing to come in and support with our curriculum delivery or host us on campus this year our Employer of the Year Award goes to BGU" Speaking following the award, Gemma Gazi, Widening Participation Officer at BGU, shared her delight: “We are delighted to be awarded the employer of the year award, it is great to be able to offer support to students helping them with decisions around their futures and helping to raise their aspirations” Further information on how you can interact with our Student Recruitment and Widening Participation teams can be found at www.bgu.ac.uk/outreach To create your own successes in our collaborative learning community, visit our website, speak to a member of our Enquiries Team or join us on one of our Open Days. -
Holocaust survivor and discrimination campaigner among those recognised with honorary awards at BGU in 2020 Graduation Ceremonies
Bishop Grosseteste University is delighted to recognise an incredible group of individuals with honorary doctorates as part of its 2020 graduation ceremonies. Those selected represent a wide range of backgrounds including Holocaust survivor and discrimination campaigner Simon Winston, Operations Manager for the England Men's World Cup winning Cricket team in 2019 Phil Neale and the former Director of INSET at the National Centre for Language and Literacy Prue Goodwin. You can read more about each of the exceptional recipients below: -
BGU host first ever international student meal as cohort grows
Bishop Grosseteste University has hosted its first English Supper for international students to welcome them to the campus. -
‘Florence Nightingale at Home’ nominated for The People’s Book Prize
A non-fiction book researched and co-authored by academics from the University of Nottingham and Bishop Grosseteste University exploring Florence Nightingale’s relationship with home has been nominated for The People’s Book Prize.
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