YES to entrepreneurial skills initiative

Energy researchers from universities across the UK are being offered the chance to sharpen their business skills in a new national competition organised by University of Nottingham Institute for Enterprise and Innovation (UNIEI) and the Network of Energy Doctoral Training Centres. The Energy Young Entrepreneurs Scheme (Energy YES) will help energy PhD students to develop entrepreneurial skills that will enable them to solve some of the most serious challenges facing the energy industry. £1000 prize - With a prize of £1000 for the winning idea, the competition follows on from the success of other 'YES' competitions, such as Biotechnology YES which has helped to improve the business skills of over 3500 scientists over 17 years. Professor Simon Mosey, Director of the Institute for Enterprise & Innovation (UNIEI) at The University of Nottingham, said: "We are delighted to be working on Energy YES, as the challenges society faces in providing sustainable energy are significant. "At UNIEI, we are helping energy researchers to develop much needed entrepreneurial skills. These are critical, as their ideas will help overcome institutional and market based barriers to the adoption of new technologies." Into the Dragons' Den - During the competition, researchers take part in a workshop to develop business plans for the energy sector. Each team develops a plan for a product or service that they pitch 'Dragons' Den' style, as though seeking investment.