Opening Plenary - Wednesday 7th November

10.30 - 12.30 Radisson SAS Hotel

“Promoting excellence in entrepreneurship education, research, and practice”

This opening session will be split into three parallel “mini-plenary” sessions focusing on the three pillars of the new ISBE Mission Statement. The sessions are led by the respective ISBE Vice-Presidents for Education, Research and Practice supported by experts in each field.

The sessions are designed to be interactive and audience participation will be encouraged. They will be held in the three sections of the Megalithic Suite designated M1, M2 and M3 click here for floor plan.

To submit a question or comment during the Plenaries Question Cards will be available to complete and hand to a Steward for selection by the panel.

M1. Excellence in Entrepreneurship Education 

Facilitated by Professor David Brooksbank, University of Glamorgan Business School

This session aims to capture the latest developments in enterprise education from the National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship, culminating in a 'state of the art' address from internationally renowned and respected expert Professor Allan Gibb.

• ISBE and Enterprise Education - aspirations and actions - Professor David Brooksbank: ISBE Vice President for Enterprise Education

• Graduate Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Education - the latest findings and developments from the National Council - Ian Robertson: Chief Executive, NCGE

• The State of the Art of Enterprise Education - where do we go next? Professor Allan Gibb: Academic Advisor, NCGE

Facilitated by Prof Robert Blackburn, Kingston University

This interactive session will involve a series of brief presentations and discussions on contemporary research issues in small business and entrepreneurship stakeholder requirements and dissemination opportunities covering:

• Current debates in small business and entrepreneurship research

• Innovative Entrepreneurship

• Methodologies and new methods

• Journal editors forum - getting published

Leading contributors will include: Professor Colin Mason, Professor Sara Carter, Professor Bob Bennett, Professor Susan Marlow, Professor Robin Jarvis, Professor David Smallbone, Professor Mark Hart and others.

M3. Excellence in Entrepreneurship Practice 
        - Enabling Entrepreneurs - What's hot & what's not!

Facilitated by Tony Robinson MBE, Chair/Founder of SFEDI

This highly participative session is aimed at practitioners and policymakers who wish to consider best practice in supporting prospective and existing enterprise owners to achieve their goals. This session will be modelled on the highly successful ISBE 2005 Practitioners' Seminar in Blackpool.

John Anderson, Chief Executive, The Entrepreneurial Exchange, will be a keynote speaker.

A framework of good practice will be developed by Prof. John Thompson, author of the successful book 'Enabling Entrepreneurs', Leigh Sear, Chair of the SFEDI Lead Body, George Derbyshire, Vice Chair of the SFEDI Lead Body and Chief Executive of the National

Federation of Enterprise Agencies plus leading small business advisers, mentors and coaches plus entrepreneurs who have benefited from, or may even be critical of, the work

of 'enablers'.

You will have the opportunity to consider and input on the value of:

• Mentor, Coach, Adviser, Counsellor - which ‘mask’ is appropriate under what circumstances and when?

• Publicly funded business and learning support - help or hindrance?

• Private sector best practice in ‘enabling’, from accountants to performance coaches - what represents great value for money?

• An elite army of enablers for UK entrepreneurs - where would we find them and how would we arm them?

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ISBE Conference Secretariat, PO Box 888, Dept G7, Harrogate, HG2 8UH, UK
 Tel:  +44 (0) 1423 879208   Fax:  +44 (0) 1423 870025   E-mail:  enquiries@isbe2007.org