THE Eastern Enterprise Hub (EE Hub) in Ipswich has welcomed the first intake of students enrolled on to its new Enterprise Academy programme, developed and delivered in partnership with sixth form college Suffolk One.

The Enterprise Academy programme will see the students, who are based at Suffolk One, make weekly visits to the hub for “enrichment days”, where they will work on their own enterprise projects while learning from established entrepreneurs and business leaders.

The students, who are all aged from 16 to 18, are studying for a Level 3 BTEC qualification in enterprise and enterpreneurship and will be required, as part of their course work, to develop their own business idea and turn it, with expert guidance, into a credible business plan ready for market.

Besides working on their business plans during the weekly visits to the hub, based on the town’s Waterfront, the students will also benefit from expert sessions in a wide range of hands on business techniques, from finance, to marketing and social media.

The hub’s entrepreneur ambassadors, the “Enterprise Superstars”, will also spend time mentoring the students in the skills, confidence and attitude of mind needed to be a successful entrepreneur, and support will also be provided by established entrepreneurs and business leaders who are members of the 5th Floor Club, the hub’s student to business network.

Welcoming the Enterprise Academy students, Celia Hodson, chief executive of the Eastern Enterprise Hub, said: “This is a significant milestone in our development and expansion of the EE Hub’s offer.

“It has always been our vision to provide young people with a unique learning opportunity that will really deliver the skills, confidence and attitude to make it as an entrepreneur.

“The skills and connections that the Enterprise Academy programme will give these amazing young people will not only help them with their individual business ventures but will have a real impact on the economic prosperity in our region by nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurs.”

Jenny Milsom, vice principal at Suffolk One, said: “The enrichment days at the EE Hub really do give Suffolk One’s BTEC in enterprise and entrepreneurship an extra dimension and we are delighted to have pioneered this partnership.

“The skills our students gain, and the contacts they are able to forge via the EE Hub will set them up exceptionally well for their future ventures.”

Luke Gusman of Sales Media Evolution, one of the hub’s Enterprise Superstars, added: ”Building confidence and making all the right connections is so important to a would be entrepreneur

“This can be especially daunting to young entrepreneurs; this programme really will give them the skills, confidence and motivation they need to make a success of their enterprise ambitions.”