Nottingham Business School students getting a taste of self-employment as course extended for second year to boost enterprise in the city
Nottingham Business School (NBS) has doubled its commitment to self-employment course, Marketing Mavericks, to offer more students the unique opportunity to gain first-hand experience of running their own business in a bid to boost enterprise in the city.
By Helen Breese | Published on 24 October 2023
Categories: Press office; Nottingham Business School;
NBS, part of Nottingham Trent University, was the first in the UK to offer the practical self-employment training for students last year to help graduates see the benefits of self-employment as an option after graduation. The response saw waiting lists of students keen to learn more about freelance opportunities after university. As a result, the Business School has this year extended the support to offer more students access to the opportunity.
60 students in their second and third year of study have now started the course and will be provided with a step-by-step guide to setting up their own business with practical hands-on advice and mentorship.
The course breaks down all the key elements of setting up a business into modules run across a mixture of in-person and online learning, with ongoing mentorship from entrepreneurs for students to try out their skills in a safe environment.
Run by entrepreneur and marketing expert Victoria Prince who owns Touchpoints Marketing, based in Mansfield, it comes after studies found that students didn’t realise self-employment could be an option after graduation. Research shows that only 2% of freelancers felt they learnt enough about self-employment at university.
Victoria, who is passionate about giving students the confidence and skills to set up their own business, said it was a great opportunity for Nottingham Trent University to boost start up success in the region.
She said: “There is a lot of information for students on entrepreneurship and theory but what we found was students needed more help with the practical skills to boost their confidence and let them know that starting a business was possible.
“They want to be able to ask questions and talk to people who have been in their position. A big part of the course is being there as they pitch for their first client or set up their business structure so they have the confidence of having someone there to show them and help them if needed.
“I appreciate self-employment isn’t for everyone, but if we are to encourage more start-ups in the UK then we need to be giving students the opportunity and skills to realise it is possible.”
Marketing Mavericks focuses on practical skills rather than theory with students already setting up freelance businesses alongside their courses. Part of Nottingham Business School’s enrichment opportunities, it is available to all students wanting to explore the world of self-employment.
Tom Spencer, Head of Undergraduate Programmes at Nottingham Business School, Nottingham Trent University, said: “Students are very knowledgeable in their field, what they need to take that leap into self-employment is the practical skills to set up their own business. We are really pleased by the response to Marketing Mavericks as it is such a useful tool in helping to prepare graduates for their next step.
“Skills such as how to network, talk to clients, set up contracts and understand the legal requirements of forming a business. It is a subtle gap in the market but one which is essential if we are to give young people considering self-employment the very best support. We have a strong focus on enterprise education at NTU, home of the Dryden Enterprise Centre, and this course is a fantastic addition to the opportunities we provide our students.”
Twenty-five students graduated from the course last year after it was first made available to just marketing students. With the course continuing to be oversubscribed the university has now invited Marketing Mavericks to support a total of 60 students and made the course available to all Nottingham Business School students.
Marketing Mavericks is run by Touchpoints Marketing, in Mansfield, which provides engaging strategy support and creative monthly marketing activities.
An entrepreneur herself, Victoria created the UK’s first energy ball recipe kit. Developing the idea alongside her own marketing business, before going on to sell the growing vegan brand, she also has a decade of experience in corporate marketing teams having worked in a variety of multinational firms.
She was recently awarded the UK and Ireland’s Marketing Strategist of the Year in the Enterprise Nation Awards 2022 being singled out for her specialist marketing support to help businesses realise their ambitious growth plans.
More information on the course and how it is helping to train the next generation of entrepreneurs is available at www.touchpointsmarketing.co.uk/mavericks
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About Nottingham Business School at Nottingham Trent University
Nottingham Business School (NBS) at Nottingham Trent University (NTU) is a leader in experiential learning and personalisation of business, management and economics education and research, combining academic excellence with positive impact on people, business and society. NBS has an unrivalled level of engagement with business, public and voluntary organisations. With more than 8,500 students, NBS is also one of UK’s largest business schools.
NBS is Quadruple+ Accredited by EQUIS, AACSB, EFMD BA for International Business, which are globally recognised hallmarks of excellence and quality for business education. NBS is also accredited by Small Business Charter, providing support and development for SMEs. The school is also a PRME Champion and held up as an exemplar and beacon by the United Nations Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME).
About Nottingham Trent University
Nottingham Trent University (NTU) received the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education in 2021 for cultural heritage science research. It is the second time that NTU has been bestowed the honour of receiving a Queen’s Anniversary Prize for its research, the first being in 2015 for leading-edge research on the safety and security of global citizens.
The Research Excellence Framework (2021) classed 83% of NTU’s research activity as either world-leading or internationally excellent. 86% of NTU’s research impact was assessed to be either world-leading or internationally excellent.
NTU was awarded The Times and The Sunday Times Modern University of the Year 2023 and ranked University of the Year in the Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023. It was awarded Outstanding Support for Students 2020 (Times Higher Education Awards), University of the Year 2019 (Guardian University Awards, UK Social Mobility Awards), Modern University of the Year 2018 (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide) and University of the Year 2017 (Times Higher Education Awards).
NTU is the 5th largest UK institution by student numbers, with approximately 40,000 students and more than 4,400 staff located across five campuses. It has an international student population of 7,000 and an NTU community representing over 160 countries.
Since 2000, NTU has invested £570 million in tools, technology, buildings and facilities.
NTU is in the UK’s top 10 for number of applications and ranked first for accepted offers (2021 UCAS UG acceptance data). It is also among the UK’s top five recruiters of students from disadvantaged backgrounds and was the first UK university to sign the Social Mobility Pledge.
NTU is ranked the second most sustainable university in the world in the 2022 UI Green Metric University World Rankings (out of more than 900 participating universities).