INVERNESS COLLEGE UHI ENTERPRISE CENTRE OPEN FOR BUSINESS

21st August 2009

Inverness College UHI has opened today a new and innovative enterprise centre based in the Highlands of Scotland, called CREATE. The centre will be dedicated to enterprise learning and enterprise initiatives for all students. The focus will be on creating more entrepreneurial learners to lead Scottish business in the 21st Century.

Budding 'Sir Alans' will get the chance to gain some real experience, with tasks such as running online businesses available for the students to get a feel for the business environment. Additionally, the CREATE centre plans to help the most committed students start their own businesses in collaboration with the Princes Scottish Youth Business Trust (PSYBT) and the newly established Business Gateway Network.

Carol Langston, the Enterprise and Innovation Manager at CREATE, said, "We are delighted to be able to offer enterprise programmes and services to our students whether they are following a full time higher education programme or re-training in a new vocational skill. Our emphasis will be to help them prepare for the realities of the business world by offering a range of real and practical business challenges."

Academic and support staff are to help students develop commercial awareness and industrial links. Local businessmen Peter Swanson and Iain Scott will be 'Entrepreneurs in Residence' at the centre. Peter Swanson, Executive Chairman of Alchemy Plus, commented, "I have always believed that closer links between business and education are vital and was delighted to accept the invitation to work with the centre as an Entrepreneur in Residence. We need more developments like this to create opportunities for students to develop their skills and expand local business."

The centre has support from Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the Inverness Chamber of Commerce, Highland Opportunity Ltd, Harper Macleod and Johnston Carmichael. Alex Paterson, Director of Regional Competitiveness, HIE stated; "Entrepreneurial development is an important part of achieving economic growth and HIE are delighted to be able to support Inverness College UHI with the establishment of this innovative enterprise education centre."

David Owen, CEO of Highland Opportunity Ltd said; "Inverness College UHI should be commended for launching this new initiative, particularly at this time of economic downturn. We at Business Gateway are looking forward to working closely with the centre and hope that we will stimulate and help many new innovative businesses in the region"

Stewart Nicol, Chief Executive of the Inverness Chamber of Commerce added: "The Chamber is fully committed to promoting business growth in the region and we are delighted to be working with Inverness College UHI to support our local budding entrepreneurs get off to the best start".

The CREATE centre is based at the Inverness College UHI Midmills campus, but will be available throughout each college campus and associated learning centre. For more information, contact Carol Langston, the Enterprise and Innovation Manager, at carol.langston[AT]inverness.uhi.ac.uk or 01463 273374.

Photo (from left to right): Alex Paterson, Director of Regional Competitiveness at HIE, David Owen, CEO of Highland Opportunity Ltd, and Carol Langston, CREATE Enterprise and Innovation Manager.