Information on Loughborough

Loughborough says YES to engineering enterprise

Posted on 11/06/2009

Loughborough University Website

Loughborough says YES to engineering enterprise

Loughborough University is encouraging enterprise among postgraduate research students and postdoctorial research staff through the 2009 Engineering Young Entrepreneurs Scheme (YES).

Engineering YES, which is being run in conjunction with Nottingham University and the Rotary Club of Loughborough Beacon, will take place at the Novotel Hotel in Long Eaton from 14 – 17 June.

The competition, which is free to enter and has a top prize of £1000, is based on the successful Biotechnology YES competition, which recently saw a Loughborough University team progress to the national final. Engineering YES has been developed to raise awareness of the commercialisation of engineering ideas among postgraduate students and postdoctorial scientists.

The 2009 competition has invited teams from Loughborough and Nottingham University only, with future competitions expected to be open to a wider field of entries.

Six teams have been entered for this year’s event, with each group comprising of five members. Participants must develop a business plan for an imaginary start-up company, which will then be presented to panel of judges. In addition to the winning prize money, there are also prizes for Teamwork, sponsored by the Rotary Club and Best Intellectual Property, sponsored by local IP firm Potter Clarkson. There will also be a prize for ‘Best Elevator Pitch', sponsored by the Institution of Engineering and Technology.

There will be a number of speakers and mentors throughout the three-day event, including guests from the East Midlands Development Agency (emda) and Potter Clarkson.