Can Entrepreneurs Change the World? 2008

Global Entrepreneurship Week in the UK was kicked off with a high-profile event on the South Bank with key note speeches by the Prime Minister himself, Gordon Brown and Rt. Hon Lord Mandelson. The topic of the day ‘Can Entrepreneurs Change the World?’ was debated by high profile entrepreneurs - from Dragons Peter Jones and James Caan, to social entrepreneurs Tim Smit, founder of the Eden Project and Sophie Tranchell, founder of Divine Chocolate.

The 400 delegates who attended were a mix of charity workers, business people, social entrepreneurs and the Prime Minister’s global fellows – a group of 100 exceptional young school and college leavers who have recently returned from six-week placements in the emerging economies of India, Brazil and China. Having recently returned to the UK, the Fellows reported back on their first-hand experiences of the changing global landscape.

The mix of people at the event made for a really interesting debate and a wide range of viewpoints were discussed. Should entrepreneurs make money and then invest it in charitable causes? Or is it better for entrepreneurs to be a responsible and ethical business right the way through the supply chain?

The Prime Minister, who had joined in on some of the roundtable discussions then closed the debate. He took to the stage to share his thoughts on the debate topic and to officially launch the first ever Global Entrepreneurship Week.

Check out more photos from the event:

Can Entrepreneurs Change the World?