It's always interesting, and a good idea to keep an eye on the new companies emerging in the
 
market. Attached is this month’s issue of YCF, including reports on some substantial investment
 
deals with life sciences companies to the fore, along with articles titled "Old mobile phones help
 
heat Romanian children" and "Upturn for Upstarts".



Niki, 13 Feb 10

Results are up for last nights Round 2 of the Discovery Challenge. Click here to see how you scored. Tuesday evening results should be in at the beginning on next week, and I’ll get them published as soon as we have them so it might be worth checking the website on Monday or Tuesday. Both Trainers said that the workshops were “buzzing” and “had a good set of ideas”, so well done!

Niki, 12 Feb 10

Round 2 of the Discovery Challenge

Round 2 of Discovery Challenge

On Wednesday 24th February, the Careers Service, in association with DUSA, is hosting the annual Volunteering Fair.  It is to be held in the Bonar Hall between 11 am and 3pm and will be host to over 50 organisations offering voluntary work, work experience and summer work, both in the UK and overseas.
 
The Volunteering Fair offers excellent opportunities for any student who wishes to broaden their horizons and gain experience within an industry or company that they perhaps one day wish to work for, or simply enhance their future employability. The event is free and all students and staff are welcome. The event is also open to graduates.

10 Fun Run points will be given to those members who attend.

If your thinking of starting up and new business or trying to get together some money to eventually get your business of the ground, I have recently updated the ‘Need Funding?’ Tab on the website. It holds information on different companies that are available to help you, give you pointers, and some awards that are available for different categories of up and comping business. Check it out.

We also have a business adviser in the office every Friday from 10am-12noon who is available to talk to you about your business plan. Maybe they’ll give you some pointers that might help in the Discovery Challenge. See the diary for more details.


Niki, 10 Feb 10

This week at the workshop sessions Round 2 of the Discovery Challenge will take place. This amounts to 10% of the overall competition and is effectively the last point at which you can join in. So if you are not already a regular at the evening sessions, this week it the time to start!

 

The Tuesday workshop will be taken by Jim Patrick of Blue Square and the Thursday session will be taken by Alan Honig of Ross&Bonnyman ltd. Click on your chosen evening for more details and to sign up for the event.

During this session you will prepare a marketing plan by focussing on defining the market and considering:
1. Is there a real opportunity?
2. Is it winnable?
3. Is it worth winning?
4. If all 3 prior conditions are satisfied, what will it take to achieve a profitable outcome?


Niki, 8 Feb 10

Workshop taken by Graeme White of Scottish Enterprise

The results for Round 1 of the Discovery Challenge have now been published for the Tuesday evening sessions. Click here to see the breakdown of results and here for the leader board. Remembers that everything is still to play for and that £1000 prize could still go to any of the teams. The results for the Thursday evening sessions will be published in due course when we have received them from the trainer.

 

Round 2 will take place next week – Tuesday 9^th and Thursday 11^th Feb, make sure you don’t miss out by signing up online before you come to reserve your spot.

 

 

Niki, 5 Feb 10

This week the Tuesday training workshop will be taken by Graeme White of Scottish Enterprise and on Thursday Steve Pryor of Enterprise Rent-A-Car will be taking the workshop. Both workshops will start at 5pm. In ‘Finding Out, you will conduct marketing research in teams to formulate and execute a research plan covering both customers and competitors. As usual this session will finish with some free nibbles and drinks in Braes.

Please sign up on the website diary before you come to the workshop. Click here for Tuesday, and here for Thursday. This way you won’t miss out on the points which go towards getting a University Blue, Colour or Merit. To do this you will need to join the website which is relatively self explanatory once you’re on the page. It can be a bit temperamental however, so if you have any problems just give us an email at the.egym@gmail.com

Niki, 1 Feb 10