News
RGU New Ideas present tough competition
Tuesday, 07 February, 2012Robert Gordon University (RGU) has announced the winners from its regional stage of the Scottish Institute for Enterprise's (SIE) New Ideas Competition, following submission of 140 high quality ideas from students across its three faculties.
The first stage of the New Ideas Competition is held locally at each university to find the best ideas from their institution for a new product, business or social enterprise. The winners of each regional stage then progress to SIE's national competition and compete against other entrants from universities across Scotland.
RGU's leg of the competition, this year sponsored by BP, is part of the Charles P Skene Entrepreneurship Programme and through the University's Business Incubator will provide support and coaching to help students turn their business ideas into viable commercial ventures. As a result of BP's generous sponsorship, nine RGU finalists have won a total prize fund of £2500 towards setting up their ideas with those in first place winning up to £400 each.
Tim Smith, Vice President of Communications and External Affairs at BP said, "I am delighted that BP has been able to support this programme which provides invaluable opportunities for students to learn practical business and enterprise skills. I have no doubt that opportunities like this help to enhance capability and encourage entrepreneurs who will be so vital for the future economic prosperity of Scotland."
Entrepreneurship is an important driver of economic growth, productivity, innovation and employment. RGU recognises the importance of harnessing entrepreneurship in its students and it's participation in the competition is another example of how the University cultivates innovation not only within its Aberdeen Business School but also from it's Faculty of Health and Social Care and Faculty of Design and Technology.
Dr John Park, Charles P Skene Entrepreneurship Programme Leader at Robert Gordon University said: "The standard of ideas across all faculties was extremely high this year and even for the entries that didn't win I see a lot of potential. RGU's entrepreneurship programme is better placed than ever to provide students with the business support they need as we have recently acquired dedicated office space for these start up businesses in the centre of Aberdeen.
"All entrants have the commitment to take their idea to the next stage in starting-up and turning it into a real venture. It doesn't matter if students don't know about business as they have the support of RGU's Business Incubator and SIE.
"Out of the three faculties, garnering interest within Health and Social Care is always a challenge, however although the entry numbers are smaller from that faculty it produced the highest potential entries and we plan to expand each of its top three ideas into real businesses."
The three prize winners, one from each faculty, were chosen by a panel of experts including, Paul Lawson, Late Life Strategy Manager within BP's Finance Department for North Sea operations and Dr John Park, who prior to his post at RGU was former Research and Development Director for Pepsi Europe. The ideas were judged on their 100 word proposal, feasibility, IP potential and revenue projections:
Aberdeen Business School
Rebecca Nolan (Communication with Public Relations)
- Developed an idea for marketing Chip-IT, RFID Tags for High Value Possessions such as designer handbags.
Faculty of Health and Social Care
Arlene Henry, Cara Dutfield, Catherine Graham, Emma Burns, Christina McNichol (Occupational Therapy)
- Health Professional Council (HPC) Auditing Training Products; producing a survival kit to guide and facilitate professionals in maintaining CPD, guiding them through the audit process.
Faculty of Design & Technology
Kiburu Saka (Research) & Sam Lyon (Computer Science)
- Proposition to develop a bus tracking device and software available for all platforms (smartphones, PC) using GPS to track where the bus is on the route map.
As a result of last year's competition, seven businesses were formed including, Shirt by Hand Ltd offering high quality individually tailored shirts and Flickaphonics Ltd providing educational products to improve primary school children's reading skills which is now being tested in schools across Scotland. Both ventures still have access to and receive support from RGU's Business Incubator.
Photo Caption:
Left to right: Paul Lawson, Late Life Strategy Manager within BP's Finance Department for North Sea operations, RGU winning students and Dr John Park, Charles P Skene Entrepreneurship Programme Leader at RGU.
Notes:
- Scottish Institute for Enterprise (SIE) works directly with students and academics by helping to develop an entrepreneurial mindset and skills and by providing business development coaching, resources and networks with the aim of increasing the number of students who consider entrepreneurship as a real option during and after their studies through a number of activities and events.
- The New Ideas Competition has six categories for entry to the competition:
• Arts & Cultural Enterprise
• E-Commerce & Retail Business
• Product Based Business
• Science, Technology, Engineering Business (including Software)
• Service Business
• Social Enterprise
The first stage of the Competition is run locally at Universities, with local winners and prizes. The winners of each local competition then progress into the National Competition for the First & Category Prizes. (First prize: £1000 business support, Category prizes: £500 cash).
Issued By:
Katie Begg
Communications Officer | Aberdeen Business School
Robert Gordon University
Schoolhill
Aberdeen
AB10 1FR
Tel: 01224 262144
Email: k.begg@rgu.ac.uk