Project Initiation Document Enterprise
Project Title
Project Sponsor
Project Champions
Enterprise
Nickola Moore –
Draft 2
Head of Membership
and Community
Engagement
Ellie Cawthera – VP Engagement
Core Project team
Ellie Cawthera
VP Engagement
David Mendosa Wolfson
Union President
Chris Nash
External Engagement
Coordinator
Head of M&CE
Nickola Moore
Project Support
Catie Williams
Nic Eldred
Student Enterprise Officer
Student Activities Manager
John Mills
Head of Finance
Alana Hebenton
Communications Manager
Sophie Delaporte
Marketing Manager
Beckie Thomas
VP Welfare
Pathik Pathak
Contact Details
vpengagement@susu.org
(x25217)
pres@susu.org
(x29492)
chris@susu.org
(x25207)
Nickola@susu.org
(x27649)
Contact details
cw13g11@soton.ac.uk
n.eldred@soton.ac.uk
(x25209)
j.mills@soton.ac.uk
(x25214)
a.j.hebenton@soton.ac.uk
(x25316)
s.c.delaporte@soton.ac.uk
(x25313)
vpwelfare@soton.ac.uk
(x28853)
P.Pathak@soton.ac.uk
Karen Haynes
Specialist Practitioner, Career
Destinations
K.Haynes@southampton.ac.uk
(x27289)
Nick Johnson
Client Services Adviser, Student
Enterprise
N.Johnson@soton.ac.uk
(x28056)
Background
Only 3% of UoS graduates set up their own business. As the working environment and
economy shifts to SMEs and entrepreneurial offerings in the UK, it is important that
Students are equipped with the necessary skills to enter the market should they wish to.
Following results gathered from 2 audits undertaken into Activities and modules currently
on offer at the University and at SUSU a project has been established to generate a
significant growth in the current offer to SUSU members.
The project will involve creating a programme of activities that demonstrate the benefits of
engaging in enterprise activity. The programme will be developed initially for the period of
2014/15 and will look to have a legacy and be sustainable beyond that period
Our project includes innovative and unique activities and will also incorporate best practice
from other organisations around the UK
Project Definition and Objectives
The Enterprise project will be a programme of up to 10 activities taking place between Oct 2014 and
June 2015 it will also incorporate legacy planning.
Benefits for Students
Students will have an opportunity to participate in Enterprise activity in order to improve
employability skills, have fun and access funding and expertise.
Benefits will be measured by:
The number of students participating in the activities
The amount of individuals and groups requesting funding
Potential equity return to SUSU
Defined method of approach
There will be a core project team who will lead the programme; Project support will include
student leaders from the Enterprise Committee and a close working relationship with our
colleagues at UoS. Funding options will also be pursued.
Project Scope
1. Change the perception of enterprise. The word enterprise isn’t always associated
with its true meaning and value. Many students don’t realise that the skills involved
in enterprise and entrepreneurialism are invaluable to whatever career you go into
regardless of self-employment. We need to get this message out.
2. Collaboration. There is a lot going on all over the university but it’s not always
collated in a way that is easily accessible and clear to students. Regular meetings
between the university (academic and careers destinations), student groups, and
SUSU will ensure that we support and shout about each other’s opportunities for
students. (Scope for inviting external partners / alumni to these)
3. Winchester School of Art. Enterprise is all about innovation and creativity and there
is so much of this going on at our WSA campus. We need to ensure we support our
students at WSA who are considering setting up their own businesses.
4. Support. Starting a business is no easy feat and by offering facility, mentoring, and
money; we can overcome the biggest barriers to starting a successful business.
Constraints or restrictions
External Engagement zone budget for enterprise is £2000 for the year.
Risks
?
Products/outputs
1. Attendance at joint UoS and SUSU meetings
2. Communications and marketing plan - Signposting – Regular meetings
with all stakeholders will enable this.
3. Global Entrepreneurship Week / Enterprise Conference
4. Social Innovation Challenge - successful team will receive up to £1500
funding towards project as well as training and mentoring
5. Partnerships – Corporate and Alumni can be a source of mentoring and
expertise for our enterprising students.
6. Students at the Market – Successful applicant will get a space at the
weekly market to sell their product.
7. Facility – Space above the SUSU shop will be ideal for student businesses
for both trading and storage.
8. Funding on an equity, loan, and/or (in rare cases) small grant basis.
£100 000 available. (7 & 8 will be run by the SLT and will report back to
the main working group as necessary)
Interfaces
Departmental plans. Trustee Board, union plan, Union Council, Zone Committee
Project Organisation Structure
Core project team will meet regularly to ensure the project is , project support
Budget Plan
Projects will be individually budgeted for from all available funds.
Timeline
Tasks/Product/Outputs
Core Project team to
meet regularly
Social Innovation
Challenge
Students showing
business’ at the market
Global Entrepreneurship
week
Partnerships with
corporate / Alumni
Project Review
Project pilots and checks
Start Date
14/1/15
Finish Date
Continual
Sept 2014
Nov 2014 – Ongoing
Oct 2014
Feb 2015 – Ongoing
Sept 2014
Nov 2014
14/1/15
April 2015
May 2015
11th April
May 2015
6th June
Stakeholders and Communication plan
Students, Support Services, Enabling services, Trustees.
Core project team will update students on the progress of the Enterprise project as well as
upcoming events and opportunities through the use of Sabbatical blogs and social media.
At the end of the 2014-15 academic year a project review will be undertaken and circulated
to the core project team and other relevant stakeholders.
Quality
A member of the core project team should attend at least three meetings a term with
members of SUSU and the UoS in attendance.
The core project team should meet monthly to discuss the progress of the project as a
whole.
At least one student business should have the opportunity to have a stall at the weekly
market on the red brick per term.
There should be one Social Innovation Challenge event per term run between SUSU, Hubs
and UoS.
Each Social Innovation Challenge should produce at least one enterprise and/or group to
receive funding and/or training.
A schedule of event should be provided during Student Entrepreneurship week in
November.
At least two new partnerships should be made to provide opportunities to students.
Review/key learning points (montoring and evaluation)
Monthly review within core project team. 1+1’s between managers and regular updates
with VP welfare. Full project review in May 2015 to set future objectives.
Archive/knowledge transfer
Set up Enterprise file in J drive