UCL and the National Student Enterprise Conference

Computer Science student Tom Stone, President of the UCL Enterprise Society, describes his experience of the National Student Enterprise Conference, hosted at UCL last month. ?UCLU Entrepreneurs Society, UCL Enterprise Society and UCL Advances partnered with the National Consortium of University Entrepreneurs (NACUE) to host the UK's premier conference for student entrepreneurs and enterprising students on 27'28 March. The conference brought together 200 students from across the UK. Championing innovation and entrepreneur-led economic growth, this year's conference, 'Business NOT as Usual?, sought to bring together academics, researchers, investors, policymakers, international corporates and global entrepreneurs. Its aim was not only to inspire, inform and connect young entrepreneurs, but also to further the discourse, thought leadership and policy awareness around enterprise and innovation needed to drive the UK economy forward. The event involved more than 40 speakers, eight panel sessions, nine workshops and three innovation garages, 20 exhibitors, a funding clinic, a £1,000 pitch competition and networking throughout. Julie Meyer, founder and CEO of Ariadne Capital, co-founder of First Tuesday, dragon on BBC's Online Dragons Den and weekly columnist in London's City A.M. , gave a powerful opening keynote speech.