Global Entrepreneurship Week is the world’s largest campaign to promote entrepreneurship. Each year, it plays a critical role in encouraging the next generation of entrepreneurs to consider starting up their own businesses.

A spokesperson for Global Entrepreneurship Week said: “Global Entrepreneurship Week simply would not exist without hundreds of partner organisations around the UK – and, in fact, the world – so thank you very much for your support. Thanks to the amazing work that you have done and high impact events you have hosted this year, we were able to reach over 250,000 (quarter of a million) participants, through nearly 2,000 events across the UK.”

Swansea University’s  Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership (IfEL), hosted by Research, Engagement and Innovation Services, collaborated with the University’s Students’ Union, Swansea Employability Academy (SEA), and the Colleges and Departments on both Singleton Park Campus, and the new £450m Bay Campus to put on a total of 19 events to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs. 

The University also worked very closely with local Welsh schools and colleges to make the events the success that they were.

Sophie Day of IfEL (pictured, far right) said: “It was a fantastic opportunity for us to engage with enthusiastic students and staff who wanted to learn more about enterprise and we are looking forward to planning more for GEW next year!”

One of the events, Start-Up Weekend Swansea, was a 54-hour competition, which saw teams from Swansea University, University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD), and Gower College come together to develop their business ideas.

They then pitched  them to an experienced panel of judges that included Debra Williams, former managing director of Confused.com and Tesco Compare; Anna Bastek, founder of Wolfstone and Voicebox; David Hieatt, co-founder of Hiut Denim in Cardigan; and Dina Henry, chief commercial officer for Charity Aid Foundation Bank in London.

Julie James, the Welsh Government’s Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology, said: "Events such as these are vitally important to develop the skills employers are looking for in their employees of the future, it is also essential that we encourage and support our young entrepreneurs and the Welsh Government provides a number of support mechanisms such as Business Wales to equip them with the necessary tools to start their business.”