[22
MAY 00] COVENTRY UNIVERSITY NEWS
Linda's A Winner After Selling Her Plans
A
Coventry University graduate is launching a new career after winning a
competition to present her ideas for a successful business.
Linda
Copeland from Hinckley scooped £1,125 for the way she presented her
business plan as part of the university’s Springboard scheme.
She
received a score of 100 per cent for her plan, with one of the judges
- a local bank manager - remarking that if she presented it to him at
his bank he would immediately provide start-up capital.
Springboard
is offered through the University’s Graduates into Business scheme
and is supported by the European Union’s European Social Fund, the
Coventry Centre for Investment, the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber
of Commerce, Training and Enterprise, and the Prince’s Business
Trust.
It
provides 13 weeks’ training and business development for budding
entrepreneurs, during which they develop a comprehensive business plan
for their new enterprise.
Linda,
who holds a degree in Art and Craft from Coventry University, said she
will use her prize money, together with £250 already awarded to her
under the scheme, to launch a decorative ceramics business.
She
said:
“Each
piece is hand-made and fired and is unique.
“I
am also interested in selling my ceramics through local business in
the Midlands and would be happy to discuss my work with shops and
art and craft outlets.
“I
have really enjoyed Springboard and have found it very useful in
planning my new business. I would recommend it to anyone thinking of
starting their own business.”
She
added that she will use some of her prize money to showcase her
products at next year’s Craft Trade Fair in Harrogate, where she
hopes to take commissions and find outlets for her work.
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