Global Enterprise Week at SERC

Global Enterprise Week (GEW), part of the calendar of activities at South Eastern Regional College (SERC), got underway this month with a series of events designed to inspire, connect, and build real-world enterprise skills amongst students.

This years’ celebration theme, Together We Build, commenced with a session on Social Enterprise, hosted in the College’s Downpatrick Campus. Led by Colin Jess, Chief Executive, Social Enterprise NI, students and staff, got to hear from a range of guest speakers, who are making a positive impact on local communities including, Sarah-Jane Mowbray, from Silent Cuts, a pay-what-you-can hairdressing social enterprise supporting people experiencing homelessness and social isolation; Ailish Teague, from Life Change Changes Lives, a community wellbeing organisation providing creative workshops, peer support, and volunteering opportunities; and  Robert Gardiner, from Downpatrick & County Down Railway Society, the Heritage railway preserving Northern Ireland’s only full-size working railway and supporting volunteering and tourism.

Catherine Shipman, Head of Student Engagement at SERC said, “We were delighted to welcome three guest speakers to the college as part of our Global Enterprise Week celebrations.

“Our students were inspired by their passion, using social enterprise to transform lives, support the community and preserve local heritage.” She concluded, “Together We Build, couldn’t be a more fitting theme for Global Entrepreneurship Week. At SERC, we strive to build an entrepreneurial mindset with students, building opportunities with them to thrive as entrepreneurs of the future who solve problems with purpose and create opportunities that strengthen communities.”

In addition, the college hosted Innovation Camps, part of the Future Founders Programme in Bangor and Lisburn Campuses and practical workshops for students preparing for the college’s Christmas markets.

GEW also saw the introduction of three new Enterprise Champions who will help promote SERC’s Entrepreneur Club and enterprise activities across the college: Vikki Pinkerton, BTEC HNC in Graphic Design, Mark Brashier, Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Business, and Ryan McCauley, from Foundation Learning.