Making connections: Entrepreneurship events in HELIX
Dr. Richard Tunstall is an Associate Professor in Enterprise at Leeds University Business School. Richard also serves as the Academic Director of Enterprise at Leeds, where he passionately supports and promotes student entrepreneurship across the university.
In October 2023, the Centre for Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Studies selected HELIX as the venue for their 'Networking and Nibbles' event. We spoke with Richard about his vision for nurturing entrepreneurship (and growing the society's numbers) through HELIX....
Location: XR space and Makerspace
Aims: To bring students together and inspire entrepreneurial activity in a professional, real-world environment. The event also aimed to facilitate open conversations about students' aspirations.
Impact: The event provided opportunities for networking, allowing students and staff to collaborate on business ideas and explore the resources within HELIX, such as podcasting booths and Makerspace. Hosting events in HELIX has also resulted in a significant increase in student participation in entrepreneurial activities, with a notable impact on the number of students joining the "Give It a Go" initiative for entrepreneurship.
Why did you choose HELIX for your event?
HELIX's flexibility and capacity to host diverse practical activities align perfectly with our vision for fostering student entrepreneurship. The availability of resources such as podcasting booths and studios has streamlined the support for our entrepreneurial projects. The unique atmosphere in HELIX provided a level playing field for students and staff, making it an ideal space for networking events that foster creativity, innovation, and real-world impact.
How did hosting your event in HELIX help you achieve your aims?
HELIX is a physical expression of the University community. It welcomes everyone and brings people together in a friendly and collaborative way. Hosting the Entrepreneurship networking event in HELIX allowed us to create a community-driven environment for students. The interconnected spaces and collaborative atmosphere perfectly supported our aims of fostering open conversations, inspiring entrepreneurial activities, and empowering students to own the space. HELIX is about creativity and innovation and the adaptability of the space really contributed to the overall success of the event.
Do you have any advice to share from your HELIX experience?
Joining HELIX means becoming part of a dynamic community, and I encourage participants to leverage the opportunities for engagement, collaboration, and use post-event follow-ups to maximise the benefits of the HELIX experience.