About the Week

“There is a great need to provide opportunities today that help entrepreneurs pursue their dreams and build the businesses of tomorrow. Global Entrepreneurship Week 2011 will kick-start the conversations that are needed to make this happen.”

Andrew Devenport, Chief Executive, Youth Business International

In 2011 Youth Business International became the host for Global Entrepreneurship Week in the UK, and ran a campaign with the key message:

“Every business starts with a conversation. Start yours today.”

The campaign, which was sponsored by RBS Group, engaged 213,000 people through 2,300 events, and was supported by 914 organisations.

The week was officially launched at Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, in partnership with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Premier League. Key speakers included:

Mark Prisk, Minister for Business and Enterprise
Richard Scudmore, Chief Executive of the Premier League
Andrew Devenport, Chief Executive of Youth Business International
Sir Keith Mills, entrepreneur and founder of Air Miles.

Here’s a very short summary of other highlights of the campaign:

Monday
The Growing Business Awards took place in London

The British Library  held an Inspiring Entrepreneurs event with Tim Campbell (winner of The Apprentice), Lara Morgan (Pacific Direct Group), Emma Bridgewater (Bridgewater pottery) and Vernon Hill (Metrobank)

Tuesday
Enterprise Nation ran a Go Global conference for entrepreneurs wanting to take their  business to the world

The Prince’s Scottish Youth Business Trust held its National Business Awards with Michelle Mone.

Business in the Community ran the Mosaic Student Enterprise Challenge, which was attended by Minister Mark Prisk.

Wednesday
The Future Gaming conference was held in Birmingham with MP Ed Vaizey.

Martha Lane-Fox, founder of Lastminute.com, presented a workshop with the School of Entrepreneurship in Liverpool encouraging people to get online

Thursday
At York Business Week, Olympic gold medallist Ben Hunt-Davies explained his tips for Growing for Gold.

The Centre for Excellence for Women’s Entrepreneurship held its first conference

Friday
At Birmingham Central Library, PRIME held a workshop about self-employment for the over-50s.

Berkeley Homes held a debate about how we can generate more jobs and more homes.

Use the event search to find other events that took place during Global Entrepreneurship Week.