The Enterprise Gym

The Enterprise Gym (or E-Gym) is a world-renowned enterprise programme, running at the University of Dundee in Scotland. It brings students and successful business-people together throughout the academic year. The entrepreneurs share their personal successes with those in the programme and train them in how to succeed in business, helping them create and run innovative business and social enterprise ventures.

tatus and membership

The E-Gym is now in its third year and currently has student members from Universities across Scotland and the UK, with total student membership standing at over 1000.

Events

The E-Gym runs a series of events which target different sectors of the student population.

Supercoaches - These events happen a few times a year on the University of Dundee main campus, in the Baxter Conference Suite. They involve some of the UK's most successful entrepreneurs and inspirational speakers and usually take the format of a half an hour speech followed by fifteen minutes of questions from the audience and then a networking buffet. Former Supercoaches have included Melfort Campbell OBE(Chief Executive of the Imes Group & Chairman of CBI Scotland), Sharon Bamford (CEO of the Scottish Institute for Enterprise), John Milligan(founder of Atlantic Power & Gas), Dr Jim Adamson CBE, John H Beaton MBE and Nick Baxter(founder of Cornerstone Community Care.

Training Workouts - Almost every Thursday of Term Time. Held in the University Tower Building. These are two hour sessions of business training in a specific area with a skilled expert. They run in full each semester. Over the semester a participant will gain a complete course in business from start to finish, with every area expert-taught.

Half Times - These are informal speakers events that are run as special sessions and are advertised on our website www.enterprise-gym.com. An inspirational and interesting speaker from the business community will speak on a specific subject for around ten to twenty minutes and the students get to ask questions and participate in the follow up discussion. These events focus on networking with food and drink being laid on after every event.

Notable Alumni

David Tonery - Founder and owner of Oxy-Gen Combustion Ltd

Sharon McPherson - Founder and owner of Pumpkin Press Souvenirs Ltd. and Author of Regional Bestseller - A Skirt Around Dundee: A Walkers Guide to the City

Projects

The Enterprise Gym creates and supports student-run projects in different academic disciplines as a way of promoting enterprise amongst the full spectrum of university students.

Current Projects:

Tytler Project - This project is based on reassessing the history of Scottish Surgeon, Encyclopaedia Britannica Editor and Balloonist, James Tytler.

Law Project - This project brings together law students seeking pro-bono experience and student businesses seeking legal advice.

The Wright Cottrell Dental Essay Prize - The Enterprise Gym has set up a short essay prize for Dental students which challenges them to place contemporary dental questions in a business context. The competition is supported by one of Europe's biggest Dental Equipment Suppliers, Wright Cottrell, who have a distribution centre in the City of Dundee.

REP Project - This project brings together The Rep Theatre and students looking to get involved with the theatre. This involves students voluntarily helping on various jobs at the theatre and in return will receive fantastic skills and tips and practise with pitching.

ALSO - We are also working with University of Dundee organisation the Placement Basement to help students improve their C.V.s and are in talks for starting several projects with Scottish Heritage.

References

* — article on the E-Gym'snew project reassessing the history of an enterprising Scottish Surgeon and Balloonist

* — article on the E-Gym's annual award ceremony for 2005/2006

* cite news|url=http://www.sie.ac.uk/index.cfm/display_page/rubbishideas.html|work=The Scottish institute for Enterprise|title=Rubbish Ideas Can Win?|date=2006-04-26 — article on one E-Gym business' experience at the 2007 Enterprise Awards for Scotland.

External links

* [http://www.enterprise-gym.com/ Enterprise Gym Homepage]