Enterprise is a taught subject on all our Higher Education programmes and on the National Diploma courses in Further Education. We believe that our graduates gain a competitive edge from studying the essentials of enterprise as a core module alongside their specialist studies.
Our aim is to give the student more options, so that the choices they make upon completion of their studies are better informed. With the right skills and personality, our graduates may choose to become free-lance designers or set up a small business with others. Others may decide that a few years experience in employment would be the wiser choice. Whichever they choose, the core Enterprise Modules will equip them with the language, concepts and many of the practical skills required in a successful business so they can have more meaningful conversations with business professionals than most other Art and Design graduates.
We will introduce students to various business issues including:
• Market research methods
• Promotional methodologies
• Ways to develop a successful business idea
• How to target a market
• Marketing and business planning
• Where to find funding for your business
• Effective presentation skills
• How much to charge for their time
• How to budget for and plan expenditure and income.
As you can see, these are the practical aspects of business that are essential for success in the creative industries.
We encourage students to take part in Enterprise Week ( 3rd week November) which is a government backed event that takes place in schools, college, universities and the work place all over Britain. Last year over 300,000 people took part.
This year, we are hoping to start an Enterprise club to give more support to those students who have already started small businesses or need some extra help to them started.
The college also hosts Creative Networks,(West Yorkshire), a monthly networking event that is free to creative professionals. It is supported by the Elsie Whitely Innovation Centre in Halifax and the West Yorkshire Lifelong Learning Network (WYLLN). Each month there is the chance for creatives to meet, make new contacts and share ideas. There is also a keynote speaker from within the creative industries to stimulate questions and debate. It very well attended and has already raised awareness of the high quality of work being undertaken by students in the college and in some cases has resulted in work placements and employer engagement in courses.