Entrepreneurial students could win £2,500 towards starting their own businesses by taking part in a 24-hour challenge hosted by the Welsh Innovation Centre for Enterprise in Caerphilly.
The contest, which takes place on May 17, will provide students with expert tuition to help them with their business ideas.
Students will arrive at the centre to compete in teams over a non-stop 24-hour period. With expert assistance from ICE mentors and their supporting business partners, they will learn the creative and business skills they will need to achieve their goals.
Each team will remain in the building for the full 24 hours, where they will work in shifts to produce a business plan for a hypothetical start-up company. In addition to providing hands-on support, Welsh ICE has also arranged for guest business experts to hold talks and seminars throughout the evening. The entries will then be assessed by the ICE start–up experts.
Among those taking part in the event are students from Coleg Morgannwg.
Kim Purnell, enterprise tutor at Coleg Morgannwg, said: “This innovative challenge is a fantastic opportunity for students to acquire the skills they need to succeed in business and possibly secure business capital for their own enterprises. I would encourage every Welsh business to join us in inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs.”
Also taking part are teams from Cardiff University, Cardiff Metropolitan University and the University of South Wales.
Gareth Jones, Welsh ICE co-founder, said: “Creativity and inspiration are at the heart of everything we do at Welsh ICE, and are key characteristics of the 40-strong business start-up community we have created since opening last summer.
“The lock-in is an opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs to learn an awful lot from extremely experienced people in a very short space of time. Members of the wider community are also welcome to come along and join in this exciting and unique event.”