Chichester College offers you a fantastic opportunity to study Enterprise and Entrepreneurship as part of a high profile national network of Peter Jones Enterprise Academies across the UK. The one year course is challenging; but rewarded with fun learning that helps you achieve your aspirations, develops strong teamwork, leadership and practical business skills through:
- Setting up your own business which trades for at least 3 months
- Setting up team social enterprise groups and raising money for local charities
- Studying an equivalent to 2 A levels in one year rather than 2 years
- Completing weekly assignments (most of which work towards developing your business idea)
- Solving at least 2 real business challenges every term
You Need a Business Idea
We strongly suggest you have a business idea (it can be a simple, small business idea and doesn’t have to be hugely ambitious) to get a place on the course, we don’t mind if you have more than one, but we will encourage you to focus on one at a time to maximise your success.
Some examples of businesses set up in 2011 are:
- Toby - Orange juice manufacturer
- Jack - Clothing manufacturer
- Tony – Clothing manufacturer/printing
- Ryan - Graphics designer
- Sam - Online florist
- Ed - Mobile recording studio
- Alex – developing products for the construction industry
- Rob - Fund to support young people learning to fly
We are pleased to see that for 2012, 80% of places secured so far are from female entrepreneurs with some very exciting and well thought through business ideas.
What Makes the Course Different
Apart from being part of Dragon’s Den Peter Jones Enterprise Academy, its aim to make business real for you. Not only do you learn theory, but you develop your practical skills in applying it your business and we strongly focus on empowering and motivating you to succeed through our coaching approach. You will be expected to come in during office hours, booted and suited. You will have a designated room to work in, with experienced teachers in business start up. You will learn how to be both ‘entrepreneurs’ working for yourselves and ‘intrepreneurs’ an entrepreneur who works within an organisation and develops the business strategically using their creativity, passion and get up and go.
At least 50% of your learning is from real local entrepreneurs in a variety of ways such as:
- Weekly guest speakers on topics of study
- Business challenges where you work as teams in solving real business problems for a client
- Mentoring by local business champions
- Coaching by staff experienced in starting up their own businesses
- Masterclasses on specific topics with high profile business champions with other colleges/universities
- Pitch for investment (mentoring and funding)
- Pitch for employment (for intrepreneurs)
- 4 week consultancy work placement
- National challenges with global corporate with other college academies
Entrepreneur Peter Jones' Academy at Chichester College
Chichester College is now in its second year of being an approved Peter Jones Enterprise Academy - the UK’s first non-profit educational institution dedicated to teaching enterprise and entrepreneurship, based on the Dragon’s Den star’s vision of a centre of excellence for developing enterprise skills.
When HRH Prince Andrew and Peter Jones CBE visited us this year, Peter Jones stated “With record levels of youth unemployment, I believe it is vital to inspire more young people across Britain to consider a different career path – an entrepreneurial one. The Peter Jones Enterprise Academy aims to unleash entrepreneurial talent in young people and equip them with the skills they need to make it in Britain. It is fantastic to have Chichester College on board as part of our nationwide college network and I am delighted to be here today. Our students represent a new and exciting generation that have been rewired with the skills, confidence, the self-belief and the ambition to pursue their dreams.”
Chichester College principal, Shelagh Legrave believes that, “Developing entrepreneurs and enterprise skills in young people is critical to the future success of the local economy. We’re delighted to be amongst the first colleges in the country to become a Peter Jones Enterprise Academy partner as this enables us to offer young people a unique opportunity to develop their entrepreneurial skills. Becoming an Enterprise Academy partner is an exciting venture for the college and for the local business community, who will have the opportunity to share their knowledge and wisdom with our Enterprise Students.” Read our News Report on the visit.
Pitch For A Place
So, you want to become the next big thing? Have you got what it takes to become as successful as Peter Jones, Sir Richard Branson, Jacqueline Gold or Lord Sugar? Ever watched the Apprentice and thought “I can do better than that!”? Come and 'pitch for a place' on the Peter Jones Enterprise & Entrepreneurship course with your business idea on:
- Tuesday 22 May 9am to 5:30pm
To secure a place, contact Helen Manuel on 01243 786321 or email pjea@chichester.ac.uk.
The following recruitment dates are also available:
- Thursday 14 June 9am to 5:30pm – Pitch for a place on the course
You can also apply directly for the Diploma in Entrepreneurship now or find out more by emailing us at pjea@chichester.ac.uk with your questions. Places for this exciting and unique course are highly competitive. Book your place before they go!