05_02_2008NEWS RELEASE
5 February 2008
In November last year (2007) enterprising students at Abertay were asked to scribble their best business ideas on the back of beer mats as part of the Scottish Institute for Enterprise Business Plan Competition.
Now the results are in and the winners will pick up their prizes at a reception in the Tasting Rooms on Thursday 7 February 2008 between 6.00pm and 9.00pm.
The prizes will be presented by prominent local business people and academics including SIE Regional Business Advisor Neeraj Agarwal, John Scott from Scottish Enterprise Tayside and Abertay’s Principal and Vice Chancellor Professor Bernard King.
Speaking before the event Professor King said: “At Abertay we believe it is important to encourage students to develop entrepreneurial skills.
“This competition attracted a large number of entries which shows the spirit of entrepreneurship is alive and well in the University.
“I would like to congratulate the winners and wish them the best of luck for the next round of the competition.”
Lecturer in International Business and Communication Iain Fraser said: “This was a great competition which really captured the students’ imagination.
“We had lots of well thought-out entries and it wasn’t easy for the judges to pick the winners from so many good ideas.
“The prize-giving will be a lovely night that will give the people who entered the opportunity to network with local business people in a relaxed and friendly environment.”
Nazar Atajanov, one of Abertay’s Scottish Institute for Enterprise interns, added: “The winners of this competition will be getting some great prizes and the top three will go through to the national competition in Edinburgh next month.
“The standard of entries was so high that Abertay has also been given two wild card entries so we’ll have five teams competing by SIE’s Regional Business Advisor.
“I’m sure those going on to represent Abertay nationally will give their competitors a run for their money.
“We’d like to thank The Tasting Rooms for holding the presentation and Borders and Scottish Enterprise Tayside for their support and sponsorship.”
For further information please contact Tracey McNeish on 01382 308935 or 07837 250284.
NOTES TO EDITORS
The winners of the Scottish Institute for Enterprise Business Plan Competition are:
First
Dawn McKaig and Jennifer Wagner from Dundee (PGDip Enterprise Creation)
Online Business Networking Solution
Second
Daniel Burke from Dublin (Third year Civil Engineering)
Eco Friendly House
Third
Andrew McDonald from Falkirk and Ian Overton from St Andrews (PGDip Enterprise Creation)
Eco Friendly IT Consultancy
Fourth
Willy Jouontso from Paris (PGDip Enterprise Creation) and Marta Sito from Venice (Fourth year Social Sciences)
Murano glass and ethnic art
Fifth
Neil A Pirie from Cupar (Third year Marketing and Business)
Golf tour business
The award evening for the Abertay Scottish Institute for Enterprise Business Plan Competition is sponsored by Borders, Scottish Enterprise Tayside and The Tasting Rooms.