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Global Entrepreneurship Week 2009
Monday, 16 November, 2009.
Introduction
This year's Global Entrepreneurship Week (16-22 November 2009) builds on the success of the first one held last year. To support schools that join in the buzz and excitement of the Week, the Business Secretary, Peter Mandelson, together with the Prime Minister, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, entrepreneur Richard Branson and others from the worlds of politics and entrepreneurship, have produced these inspirational video messages of support.
Why not play the video in an assembly and register it at www.gew.org.uk/register_an_activity as another Global Entrepreneurship Week event, to raise the profile of your school during this high-profile international celebration of enterprise?
Background
Global Entrepreneurship Week (16-22 November 2009) is a worldwide movement of entrepreneurial people, with millions unleashing their enterprising talents and turning their ideas into reality. Last year, there were 24,966 events and activities run in 77 countries and attended by more than 3.06 million people (644,000 of whom were in the UK).
Prime Minister Gordon Brown described Global Entrepreneurship Week as "a shining example of Britain leading the world in enterprise and innovation". It was the UK's Enterprise Week (which has been running since 2004) that inspired and became part of the wider global movement that is Global Entrepreneurship Week and the UK and USA have been the driving forces behind its development and success. The week remains relevant to everyone, whether at school, college or university, be it on a one-to-one, local, regional or national basis.
The global links add a new dimension and highlight the importance to us all of thinking globally, whether running and growing a business or working within an organisation. It is this insight that will enable our entrepreneurs of the future to see global markets as opportunities, rather than threats. Yet Global Entrepreneurship Week remains a platform for anyone to spotlight and celebrate their entrepreneurial and enterprising activities.
Key themes during the Week include: Make Your Mark Challenge (16 November) — the largest one day enterprise competition for schools and colleges in the UK (over 56,000 students took part last year); Women's Enterprise Day (18 November) — celebrating successful female entrepreneurs and inspiring more women and girls to turn their ideas into reality; Social Enterprise Day (19 November) promoting business models with aims that are primarily social or environmental and whose surpluses are put back into the business or community; Home Enterprise Day (20 November) — which focuses on starting a business from the comfort of your own home and showcases people that already run successful home-based enterprises.
Thousands of events will be run all over the world this week, creating mass participation and exposing people of all ages to quality entrepreneurial experiences, developing their enterprise skills and confidence, and letting them realise their ambitions.
