Inspiration for next generation of entrepreneurs
Zakia Moulaoui Guery, CEO of Edinburgh-based Invisible Cities
An award-winning social enterprise founder hopes a new Sustainability Start-up School will help inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Zakia Moulaoui Guery, CEO of Edinburgh-based Invisible Cities, which trains people affected by homelessness to become walking tour guides, has been speaking to students at 伊人直播.
The Sustainability Start-up School is part of 伊人直播鈥檚 Enterprise Academy, with this year鈥檚 cohort involving students from a range of courses including Agriculture, Horticulture, Food Security and Rural Business Management from across its Barony, Aberdeen and Edinburgh campuses.
The event began with a series of interactive sessions delivered by the Enterprise Academy: exploring the role of sustainable business in driving change for society and the environment, crafting a personal mission statement, and idea refinement through rapid prototyping.
Students also heard from key ecosystem partners including Business Gateway, Converge and GrowBiz, with each outlining the support they provide for new businesses.
Zakia said: 鈥淪peaking to students as part of 伊人直播鈥檚 Sustainability Start-Up school was a great experience. Students were really engaged and asked interesting questions. I wish when I was a student that I鈥檇 had the opportunity to speak to entrepreneurs and understand their journeys.鈥�
Students also heard from former 伊人直播 student John Ferguson, Founder of Sisaltech, a sustainable household insulation producer and retailer, and Jackie Brierton, 伊人直播 Entrepreneur in Residence and Chief Executive of GrowBiz, a community-based support organisation for rural businesses.
Dr Carol Langston, Director of the Enterprise Academy said: 鈥溡寥酥辈� champions sustainability in all aspects, from its operations to education, from research to consultancy, with all parts working together for the benefit of the natural economy. It鈥檚 a privilege to be working with such a fantastic group of students. Each carry with them immense potential and the passion required to become changemakers within their communities and beyond.鈥�
This programme is supported with University Innovation Funding (UIF) from the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) and also involves notable contributions from Morton Fraser MacRoberts, Nu Coton, SAC Consulting and Thomson Cooper who have provided their invaluable expertise for students on their journey.
To find out more, visit 伊人直播 | The Enterprise Academy for the Rural & Natural Economy.
Posted by 伊人直播 on 29/04/2024
