Our second Enterprise Day will be opened by Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Ian White, on 29 March 2023, with an audience of researchers, students, alumni, entrepreneurs, and external stakeholders. Professor Jonathan Knight, Vice President, who will Chair the day says:
I am delighted that we are able to once again celebrate our Enterprise Day. Fostering an innovative and enterprising campus culture is of prime importance to the University as we seek to recognise and support all our staff and students who pursue an entrepreneurial path.
External speakers include Alumnus Stephen Carter who, as a European Patent Attorney, founded The Intellectual Property Works to help innovative start-ups and SMEs to leverage their IP. Alumnus Jordan Harry, CEO of StudyFast and popular TEDx Speaker, will be involved in the Graduate University Success Stories session chaired by Siobain Hone, Enterprise Education Manager.
Enterprising researchers with experience of commercialising their ideas will also be contributing throughout the day. This includes Dr Vimal Dhokia, Deputy Head of Mechanical Engineering and Co-Founder of Gen3D; Professor Toby Jenkins, Principal Investigator at SmartWound Ltd; and Professor Randy Mrsny, Founder of Applied Molecular Transport.
The University’s School of Management will be involved with Margaret Heffernan, Professor of Practice, talking on the advantages of failure. Margaret co-leads the Forward Institute which supports responsible leadership, and mentors CEOs and senior executives of major global organisations.
Stephen Rangecroft, Director of External Engagement, who is responsible for curating the day says:
I am thrilled that we are able to assemble such an impressive group of individuals who can share such valuable insights and lessons learned from their entrepreneurial journeys. Our second Enterprise Day will appeal to students, researchers and local SMEs who are interested in starting and sustaining new businesses.
A showcase of start-ups created by University of Bath students will be on display in the East Building, to highlight examples of enterprising business ideas which have developed into entrepreneurial successes.
Those showcasing include Simon Rollings, Canned Wine Co.; Chris Hannaway, Infinite Session; and winners past and present of the University’s Alumni Innovation Award, which supports students to develop their ideas into viable businesses. This includes graduates Isabel Hurst, Doppelle; James Rust, Test My Teeth; and Nav Sawhney, who founded the Washing Machine Project, a grass roots social enterprise based in the UK.
The BBC recently announced Nav Sawhney as a recipient of the Points of Light Award from the Prime Minister Rish Sunak.