This international event, involving seven and half million people from over 130 countries, is taking place around the world throughout the week of 18 - 24 November. It aims to support and develop aspiring entrepreneurs and ultimately, create new and flourishing ventures. The Week enables budding entrepreneurs, recent start ups and growing small businesses to receive practical advice and support from real people at all ends of the entrepreneurial spectrum, who have tried and tested different routes to success.
Here in the UK, Global Entrepreneurship Week is once again hosted by Youth Business International (YBI). YBI also runs the event in 10 other countries including Canada, Barbados and Bhutan. It uses the Week to promote a conversation about entrepreneurship which connects people, shares ideas and addresses regional and international issues to help create the next wave of business owners.
For 2013, YBI is encouraging aspiring entrepreneurs and small businesses to ‘take a step forward' towards start up success. Global Entrepreneurship Week is the perfect time for people to be proactive about their business aspirations; perhaps by joining a local networking group or giving social media channels a boost. With over 2,500 events planned from Southampton to Scunthorpe, involving over 250,000 people, the Week is set to be bigger and better than ever before. YBI is encouraging anyone with an interest in enterprise to explore the events and resources available through the Week and think about how they can join the conversation.
Activity taking place during GE Week includes around 3,000 events and these range from the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy will challenge students from Southend on Sea to explore the barriers preventing young people from taking a step forward in their enterprise careers, tasking them to develop an awareness campaign to encourage entrepreneurship to over 1,800 students taking part in ‘Nestle The Chocolate Box Challenge' where they will act as a chocolate manufacturer trying to secure an order to supply a new market.
Events taking place across the globe include Canada's $5 Challenge, where teams of students will be given $5 on the Monday of Global Entrepreneurship Week and will have until the end of the week to turn it into as much money as possible.
To make the Week even more special, this year will mark 10 years of a week in the UK dedicated to giving individuals the useful support to help them get started and to take a step forward. Once the Week is underway, the next chapter in this enterprise story will be to ensure the enthusiasm and optimism harnessed during Global Entrepreneurship Week is married with the practical support that aspiring entrepreneurs need to transform their business ideas into a reality.
For further information about Global Entrepreneurship Week, to learn more about the events taking place across the world and how you can be involved, visit www.gew.org.uk or follow the hashtag, #GEWfwd on Twitter.
