GRADUATES are being given a flying start to their chosen careers.
The National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship (NCGE) will host its first Flying Start Rally in Leeds on November 16 during Enterprise Week.
It aims to give potential student and graduate entrepreneurs from Huddersfield and throughout Yorkshire a taste of the entrepreneurial lifestyle and set them on the road to success.
The rally at Elland Road Stadium, between 9.30am and 6pm, is expected to attract up to 300 potential student and graduate entrepreneurs from the area's higher education institutions, including Huddersfield University.
It will include questions and answers with existing entrepreneurs and workshops on ideas generation and "pitching your business".
Students will also be able to practise power networking with local mentors, business angels, and each other.
At the end of the rally, the most promising 15-20 entrepreneurs from the region who have either already started their business or who plan to start their business in 2006, will be selected to join the national Flying Start Investment Ready Programme.
The programme will support them to develop and condition their ideas and, if appropriate, find funding.
Lorna Collins, director of the NCGE's Flying Start programme said: "It's critical that we create more opportunities and environments for potential entrepreneurs to meet and be inspired.
"Students and graduates see entrepreneurship as an exciting and viable option on graduation and we need to do all we can to help them make this a reality".
Alex McWhirter, head of enterprise at Yorkshire Forward, said: "Entrepreneurial talent is critical to development of business in the region."
