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Business leaders to speak at Reading conference – University of Reading

The University of Reading is to host a conference on entrepreneurship and the role universities play in nurturing entrepreneurial spirit.

The one-day conference will be addressed with a welcome speech from Reading's Professor Rob Robson, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Teaching and Learning, and insight speeches from business leaders Michael Chivers, Director of Human Resources, Sony Ericsson Europe, Phillip Kennedy, Head of Technical Operations, 3M UK, and Daryl Scales, Vice President Business Management, Enterprise Rent-A-Car.

The conference – Fostering the Enterprising Workforce - will promote the links between employability and enterprise and explore the importance of fostering enterprising students for all sectors - while examining the role of Universities in developing these 'game changing' individuals.

Becki Miller, the University's entrepreneurship manager, said: "This event will bring together enterprise and careers professionals, senior managers, academics, graduate entrepreneurs and students from universities across the South East of England and beyond.

"With the opportunity to hear senior professionals from leading multinationals discuss the importance of enterprising individuals in their organisations and graduate entrepreneurs discuss their motivations for business start-up, this conference is not to be missed. Delegates will participate in a range of interactive and Best Practice workshops and will be signposted to resources and opportunities to support students in both new venture creation and entrepreneurial skill development."

This is the third HEEG - Higher Education Entrepreneurship Group – conference.

Richard Lambert, director general of the CBI said: "Increasing the entrepreneurial capabilities of students is absolutely core to the future competitiveness of British Industry. Universities play a central role in developing students, equipping them with enterprising skills so they are able to start their own businesses on graduation or bring value and energy to the organisations in which they are employed. I applaud the efforts of HEEG in facilitating student enterprise, in promoting valuable partnership between industry and Universities, and for organising what looks like a valuable and stimulating conference."

The conference will be held on Wednesday June 20, between 9.30am and 4.30pm.



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For more information about the conference, or if you want to attend, contact Becky Miller on 0118 378 6062, or email her.

More information about entrepreneurship at Reading:

The University of Reading Business School is home to world-leading research groups in both its original specialism, the economics of international business, and a wide range of related areas: international business strategy; foreign investment and technology transfer; international and comparative management; international finance, accounting and regulation; the history and evolution of business; the economics of development and transition; regional and urban economics; real estate finance, economics and investment; real estate management; and planning and governance. Find out more by visiting the Business School's website.

More about HEEG:

HEEG is the forum created by the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) to support the many different types of staff engaged in promoting, teaching and engaging in, entrepreneurship within Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).