Announcement: Entrepreneurs Unite team invited to breakfast with Vince Cable to launch GEW

17/11/2013

Entrepreneurs Unite gets ready for Global Entrepreneurship Week 2013

Portsmouth is planning 76 activities with over 36 partners as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week 2013 - the nation's largest entrepreneurship-focused campaign. With over 1,200 attendees already registered the Entrepreneurs Unite volunteers are working tirelessly against the clock to make it a success.

This global event runs from 18-24 November and will be encouraging current and aspiring entrepreneurs to take a step forward in their plans - whether that's starting a business, seizing a new opportunity or finding out more about careers in enterprise.

Last year 279,500 people attended over 3,200 events, organised by 532 partner organizations across the UK - a 30% increase on the year before. This year the campaign aims to reach thousands more, through offering local and practical events that can inspire and educate people about what support is available to entrepreneurs in Hampshire and across the UK.

Shena Mitchell, from Entrepreneurs Unite says: "We wanted to start the week off with high impact so after attending the formal breakfast launch with Vince Cable we will be attending Shaping Portsmouth Conference at the Portsmouth Guildhall which is a sellout. We are all so excited about the week having spent months preparing and planning we want it to be a huge success."

Cheryl Buggy Project Director of Shaping Portsmouth called for more people to get involved in the Week, saying: "This is a great opportunity for Portsmouth companies to get involved in Global Entrepreneurship Week and we are delighted to be formally launching the week with the Shaping Conference which has an inspirational line up of key note speakers."

If you would like more information about Global Entrepreneurship Week or to find out how you can get involved or register an event, visitwww.entrepreneursunite.co.uk

Ends

Notes to Editors:

Entrepreneurs Unite is a community group managed by volunteers and sponsored by local business people. Our aim is to create a focal point for the business community - bringing together talented and creative individuals to inspire and support entrepreneurship in the Portsmouth area. Entrepreneurs Unite is being launched in Global Entrepreneurship Week 18-24 November 2013 and aims to host and promote many events during that week and throughout the year leading towards an even more successful Global Entrepreneurship Week in 2014.

Shaping Portsmouth

Shaping the Future of Portsmouth is an affiliation of business people in the city, who have come together to offer their time and expertise to help support the ambitions and aspirations of Portsmouth City Council. These aspirations and ambitions are laid out in the PCC regeneration strategy, and the Business Growth and Skills Plan. The Shaping members have established a number of workstreams, each of whom have selected areas where they think they can take action to help to improve the city for the benefit of all.

Global Entrepreneurship Week

Global Entrepreneurship Week (18-24 November 2013) is the world's largest campaign to promote entrepreneurship. Each year, it plays a critical role in encouraging the next generation of entrepreneurs to consider starting up their own business. It is a worldwide movement of entrepreneurial people. Around 130 countries across the globe are signed up to take part, with an estimated 7.5 million people taking part! Millions of people will use the week to create new opportunities and successful ventures.

This year's Global Entrepreneurship Week will also be celebrating 10 years of enterprise history in the UK. The first Enterprise Week - now Global Entrepreneurship Week - was held in 2003, so 2013 will be our tenth anniversary. Over this time, everyone involved has helped hundreds of thousands of people make the most of the start-up opportunities that exist in the UK.