The Welsh Innovation Centre for Enterprise (ICE), based on Caerphilly Business Park, has partnered with Coleg Morgannwg with a work placement scheme to help develop a new generation of entrepreneurs.
The business centre will provide ongoing support to enterprising students at Coleg Morgannwg’s Nantgarw TELC campus.
Students studying for a BTEC Level 2 in Understanding Enterprise and Entrepreneurship recently visited ICE and met with dozens of the companies already based there.
Coleg Morgannwg’s aspiring entrepreneurs will be offered a taste of the real business world through various workshop and work-placement schemes at ICE during 2013.
Enterprise tutor Kim Purnell said students had learned that entrepreneurship is best fostered in a positive environment like ICE.
She said: “The key thing my students took away from the day was that you have to surround yourself with positive people in order to succeed in business – in the same way Coleg Morgannwg strives to align itself with like-minded, community-focused organisations like ICE for the benefit of its students.”
Those looking forward to working more closely with Welsh ICE in future include BTEC students Rhianydd Elley from Pontypridd and Tayiba Aslam, from Ystrad Mynach.
Rhianydd, 16, who aims for a career in marketing and promotions, said: “I thought ICE was interesting and the atmosphere was relaxed. I learned to never surround your self with negative people.”
Tayiba, also 16, said: “ICE is motivating and inspirational – the staff told us to keep negative people out of our lives, keep motivated and to believe in ourselves and our abilities.”
Welsh ICE, a social enterprise, also houses graduate and undergraduate members who are being supported to develop their business ideas while still studying.
Future plans to help Coleg Morgannwg students get ahead in business include shadowing exercises, problem-solving workshops and ‘lock-in’ programmes where learners have 24 hours to solve a particular issue.
Gareth Jones, Welsh ICE co-founder, said: “Now our partnership with Coleg Morgannwg gives those studying the basics of entrepreneurship, as well as more established businesses, an idea of what to expect when they put that theory into practice and go into business themselves.
“In turn Welsh ICE will have the opportunity to support the most talented candidates in an environment where no problem is too small, and no idea too big.”
To date 22 fledgling enterprises have moved into Welsh ICE, which has potential capacity for 150 start-up businesses.
Up-and-coming entrepreneurs can also apply for a bursary to cover the cost of their first year at Welsh ICE, which is funded by the Fairwood Trust charity.
For more information visit www.welshice.org/awards