Students ‘locked in’ for entrepreneurial challenge

Entrepreneurial students from Cardiff University will be taking part in a 24-hour lock-in challenge to win £2500 towards starting up their own business.

The innovative challenge is hosted by the Welsh Innovation Centre for Enterprise (ICE) and will take place at the ICE centre in Caerphilly on 17 May. The students will work in teams and in shifts non-stop over 24 hours to produce a business plan for a hypothetical start-up company.

The teams will learn creative and business skills from ICE mentors and supporting business partners during the 24 hours in the form of hands-on support, seminars and talks. The final entries will be assessed by the ICE experts and the winning team will receive £2500 towards creating their own business.

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."

Accomplished business people are already lined up to take part in the exercise, including Santander Wales Business Development Director Mike Davies – who has bravely volunteered to speak at 4am - but Welsh ICE would welcome others who feel they can contribute to the event.

For more information on the Welsh ICE 24 Hour Lock In, please contact Gareth Jones, Welsh ICE co-founder on 02920 140040 or emailgarethjones@welshice.org