Earlier this month, Salford Business School (SBS) delivered an outstanding Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW), bringing together over 350 students, 65 businesses, international partners and civic leaders to inspire, educate and empower the next generation of entrepreneurs. The week showcased our commitment to innovation, social impact, and the University of Salford’s mission of enriching lives.
Friday 14 November: tech for good (Greater Manchester Institute of Technology project)
Ahead of the main GEW programme, the School hosted an international perspective on technology-driven community impact. Matt Helfrich, from Link Strategic Partners (Washington DC), and Shaz Aziz, from Latest Business Offers, led a powerful session on ‘tech for good’ as part of the Greater Manchester Institute of Technology (GMIoT) schools and colleges programme. Students explored how digital tools can strengthen communities, support local businesses and generate social value.
Day one (Monday): inspire to enterprise
Kickstarting the week was a fireside chat featuring entrepreneur and changemaker Dr Vikas Shah MBE DL, in conversation with Nancy Cooke, Director of International Development at SBS. With 102 students in attendance, the discussion explored resilience, global opportunity and purpose-driven leadership, setting the tone for a week of ambition and creativity.
Day one (Monday): global COIL innovation hackathon launch
Continuing our commitment to empowering entrepreneurs globally, the week also saw the launch of the collaborative global innovation hackathon, delivered through our Collaborative Online Learning (COIL) partnership with CBS International Business School (Germany), Humber Polytechnic (Canada) and GEA College (Slovenia).
Postgraduate and international student teams received a mystery five-day challenge exploring a timely future-focused question: what is the future of artificial intelligence (AI) in higher education? The session opened with a keynote from Dr Carmel Tse, an expert in AI governance and digital strategy. Carmel introduced frameworks, offering students an evidence-based framework to support their work throughout the week.
This collaborative COIL activity provided an interactive, cross-national platform for students to share ideas, compare international perspectives and develop innovative solutions to a global challenge.
Day two (Tuesday): follow the money – funding, growth and finance for entrepreneurs
This interactive session was led by Daniel Ponting (Daniel Ponting Consultancy) and Simon Truby (Business Enterprise Fund), with 42 students taking part. The event provided practical insights into funding routes available for early-stage entrepreneurs in Greater Manchester, including grants, start-up loans, and mentoring pathways.
Through interactive challenges, real-world case studies and myth-busting activities, students learnt how to navigate early funding, prepare investor pitches and understand what makes a business investment-ready.
Day three (Wednesday): connect and collaborate – technology and sustainability expo
In partnership with Business for Business (BforB) International, this all-day expo was the largest event of the week, bringing together:
- 140 students
- 53 businesses
- 5 entrepreneurship masterclasses
The event connected students directly with founders, innovators and business leaders, offering insights into real enterprise journeys, professional networking and live opportunities for collaboration.
Day four (Thursday): Salford inclusive co creative hackathon
In partnership with Salford City Council, 36 students took part in a civic-focused hackathon addressing six key barriers to self-employment in Salford: gender, digital confidence, over 50s, the gig economy, neurodivergence, and community.
Students collaborated with civic partners including Chantelle Bowen (Salford City Council), Jon Monk (The Business Group), Faith Staniforth (Dovestone Property) and Eric McBean (Squosh).
The day concluded with a panel discussion exploring inclusive entrepreneurship, co-production and local enterprise policy.
Day five (Friday): enterprise that matters – enriching lives through entrepreneurship
The week concluded with a focus on social enterprise and purpose-led leadership. The panel discussion featured: Celia Gaze (The Wellbeing Farm), Ngozi Weller (Aurora), Jenny Matthews (The Enterprise Bridge), Linda Robson (Deli Lama), and Krish Patel (Tales to Inspire). These inspirational founders showcased enterprise as a force for good, emphasising compassion, impact and the future of socially responsible business.
The event also celebrated GEW student volunteers and the achievements of the Global Hackathon participants, bringing the week to a close with pride and celebration.
Dr Lisa Rees-O’Donnell, event lead, Director of Professional Engagement and Senior Lecturer of Entrepreneurship and Sustainability reflected: “It was a brilliant week of learning, collaboration and entrepreneurial spirit. A sincere thank you to our volunteers and special guests who generously shared their experiences and provided powerful insights into the world of entrepreneurship. Most importantly, thank you to our students for their curiosity and engaging with this inspiring week.”
Dr Ambarin Khan, Lecturer and Programme Lead for MSc Entrepreneurship and Innovation, who led on coordinating the global hackathon, added: “Last week’s events are a clear example of how curiosity, collaboration, and creativity can bring about positive change and innovation to the industry. It was inspiring to see the students working together and networking with industry experts to set themselves up for success in the industry and mobilise change.”