51Âþ»­

Most students have heard of spending a year with industry and honing their workplace skills, but how about 12 months spent building your own business?

The latest cohort of 51Âþ»­ Leicester (51Âþ»­)’s Enterprise Placement Year have just finished their time doing just that – and have rave reviews about how it has helped them.

Each of the four students were able to concentrate their time on their passion projects, either starting from scratch or having the time to focus on a business they had already started.

It has been the most successful year yet for the Enterprise Placement Year, now offered as an option for all eligible second year students at 51Âþ»­. Each student will receive £3,000 bursary, a series of workshops to develop their business knowledge and 1-2-1 sessions with the 51Âþ»­works Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Team of Simon Baines and Vikesh Mistry.

Students must apply for a place by pitching their business idea to the team, with successful applicants being chosen following an interview process.

“When I first started the Enterprise Placement Year, all I had was a name and an idea,” said Jordan Lewis, who spent the past 12 months establishing his digital marketing agency Regal Marketing. “Just having the time to spend on the business and having the support of people like Vikesh in our calls and 1-2-1 sessions has been invaluable.

“Being part of this enterprise year, we’ve formed strong links. I think most students they don’t really think about starting a business and a lot of my friends, they don’t think that way so having three other students who are at a similar stage in their business and had the same mindset has been great.”

Jordan, an AI student, has brought his analytical approach to Regal Marketing where he uses data insights to market luxury brands in the UK and the US.

Another student who has set up is drama student Andrietta Simbi who is setting up an entertainment company called Soul Entertainment. During her year she has been making short films and writing scripts, as well as networking and making contacts. She met Jamal Edwards MBE, one of the UK’s top YouTubers, after approaching him and was then asked back to support a project with Adobe.

“It’s been 1000% worth it,” she said. “It has been a great experience and thanks to the financial support from the team I was able to buy a laptop, camera and kit so I’m prepped for the next year.”

The 2021/22 cohort has 7 students on it with a range of businesses including lingerie, technology vintage clothes and food.

• Interested in an Enterprise Placement Year? Find out when 2022/23 applications open  here [https://www.dmumade.com/] or email: enterprise@dmu.ac.uk if you have any questions.