Enterprise education combines creativity, ideas development, problem solving and practical skills to apply abilities across all areas of education. It enhances one's capacity to generate ideas and implement them. The document discusses enterprise and entrepreneurship education, providing context about Blackburn College and the local area. It then outlines Blackburn College's Coffeemat Challenge, a competition to engage students in social enterprise where over 300 business ideas were generated and several projects received funding. The challenge highlighted that students need ongoing support to develop ideas and some lessons learned.

1. “the application of creative
ideas and innovations to
practical situations… a generic
concept that can be applied
across all areas of education…
combines creativity, ideas
development and problem
solving with expression,
communication and practical
action.” (QAA, 2012: 8)
“an enhanced capacity to
generate ideas and the
skills to make them
happen” (QAA, 2012: 2).
Enterprise education?

2. “ the additional knowledge,
attributes and capabilities
required to apply these
abilities” (QAA, 2012: 2).
http://www.athgo.org/ablog/index.php/2013/09/17/entrepreneurship-web-3-0s-transform-africa-2013
Entrepreneurship
education?

3. Blackburn College
• Founded in 1888 Technical College
• 15,000 students
• Second largest provider of HE in FE
with over 3,000 students

4. • Population circa 147,000
• Young population profile - 29% aged 0-19 - fifth
highest proportion of any LA in England (average
24%)
• 31% BME population compared with 14% nationally
• 28th most deprived (IMD 2010)
• 4,425 VAT/PAYE registered businesses which 95%
employ less than 20 people – SME territory
• Industrial legacy with access to beautiful landscape
The Borough of Blackburn

5. Where will the jobs come from?
• Existing Businesses
• New Businesses / self employment
• Inward Investment
• Connectivity – PL and beyond
(Blackburn with Darwen, 2013)

6. Business Mix
(Blackburn with Darwen, 2013)

7. Self Employment?

8. Our Challenge
• Raise awareness of Enterprise and Social
Enterprise
• Identify projects to fund
• Change current practice?
• Engage employers in the process

9. Coffeemat Challenge

10. Since 2009...
• Business Idea Generation
o 140 characters, very low barrier
• Voting
o Fun and engaging means you get lots
of votes
• Like/Share Button
o Simple social media integration
• Emails
o Not for much longer...

11. In 2013, Gamification

12. Challenges

13. Rewards

14. Ideas

15. Events

16. Shortlist

17. Winner(s)

18. Implementation
• Competition ran 5th October -7th December
• Incorporated Global Enterprise Week
• A steering group was formed to help open doors to social
enterprise businesses, expertise, agree winners and advice.
• All branding to follow Coffeemat format adapted to Blackburn
College

19. Further implementation
• Industry sponsors of the prizes(Suppliers)
• Link to funding via UnLtd
• Tutor briefing pack developed
• Extensive calendar of enterprise/social events which
was held across college attracting 661 attendees

20. Highlights
• 1442 students took part
• 661 students attended a series of social
enterprise events.
• 307 business ideas were generated.
• Steering Committee Formed
• Tutors Engaged
• Businesses sponsored the prizes
• Plethora of ‘PR opportunities’

21. Funded Projects

22. Funded Projects
• “Create an agony aunt App to support young people”
• “Project to raise awareness and create a support network for Mental
Health in young people aged 16-18”
• “Create an App that enables students to recycle their old college books
and also provide a college handbook to save printing costs”
• “Project is to up cycle car tyres which would reduce waste and fly
tipping”
• “A recycling scheme through EBAY that recycles Public Sector goods that
are no longer required”

23. Learning experiences
• Students have business ideas but support is required to take
ideas forward
• Events’ schedule had a dramatic effect on participation levels
in Coffeemat
• Deadline for awarding funding took longer than anticipated
• Businesses readily engaged
• Influence of senior college staff

24. But…
• Students required mentoring and on-going
support to deliver their projects
• Funding arrangements excluded a number of
Higher Education students who are over 21
• Canteen staff don’t like coffeemats!