Theo Paphitis Backs "Entrepreneur Degree"

Theo Paphitis the celebrity entrepreneur from Dragons’ Den is backing a new degree which will require the students to start and run a business. The new degree, which starts next September, is a BA Honours degree in Enterprise Development from Huddersfield University. It is the brainchild of one of the UK’s leading Professors of Entrepreneurship, Professor John Thompson of Huddersfield University and serial entrepreneur, Chris Owen, Marketing Director of the Royal Armouries.

The degree is believed to be the first which combines a theoretical business framework with a practical outcome of starting and running a business. Some key points about the course are:

Students start their own business as well as learn about the necessary business disciplines.

The programme deals with the development of the product or service, the would-be entrepreneur and the actual business.

In the first year the focus is on identifying and screening a number of ideas to find a real business opportunity worth pursuing. The second year is all about developing this and starting a business. In the third year the business is up-and-running and credits are gained from this experiential learning.

Most types of business are relevant and possible and there is some opportunity to study more technical support modules from across the University.

Students will network with successful ‘role model’ entrepreneurs, professional experts and external mentors as well as the Business School staff.

There is on-campus business incubation support from the University’s Business Mine.

Apparently Theo Paphitis will lead a series of masterclasses throughout the course. World-renowned business expert Michael Gerber (of the E-Myth fame) will also contribute.

It certainly sounds a lot more fun (and useful) than my Computer Science degree was!

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• 1

  Hi John – this is an interesting idea. I’ve often thought entrepreneurs would be better off getting practical experience, as opposed to an MBA.

  I’m guessing it will be challenging for the students to study and run their business at the same time though.

  Cath Lawson on September 17th, 2008
• 2

  Chris Owen is indeed a serial entrepreneur and has been instrumental in helping a whole host of business owners through Michael Gerbers Dreaming Room. He is very much from the school of Gerber but has his own unique ability to simplify business models, systems and processes. He is also a very accomplished marketeer. If he is behind the course I know the students will be tested to the core and will almost certainly benefit from Chris’s business imagination, creativity, passion and interest in helping others succeed.

  Jan Eskildsen on September 17th, 2008
• 3

  Cath,

  I agree it’s a good idea and I’d like to see more of these courses.

  With regards to the MBA however I think it depends what sort of business you want to create. If you want to build a innovative high growth company I think you’re probably better off doing another first degree which is related to the area in which you wish to create the business, then gaining some work experience and then doing an MBA. On the other hand if you’re aiming to build a small business there’s no need for the MBA.

  John on September 17th, 2008
• 4

  Hi John,

  As Programme Director of the BSc Business Enterprise at the University of Buckingham, I wish to comment on your post “Theo Paphitis Backs Entrepreneur Degree” and also let you know that there are several similar degree courses already operating.

  Professor Thompson’s planned programme at Huddersfield will not be unique. Our first cohort of students started to study for their BSc in Business Enterprise honours degrees at the University of Buckingham in January 2006 and graduated at the end of 2007.

  Our second and third cohorts are studying for their honours degrees and running their businesses. For details about our programme and our students’ businesses, please see http://www.buckingham.ac.uk/business/bbe.

  Huddersfield is also not unique in launching a 3-year ‘entrepreneur degree’ with the opportunity of starting a business, Coventry and Staffordshire Universities both offer similar degrees, though they do not offer their students the seed-corn capital to run their businesses, as we do. At Buckingham our students can achieve an honours degree and have a business with an 18 month track-record in just 2 years.

  One other point about Professor Thompson’s new programme, from our experience, it will be very difficult to persuade really entrepreneurial students to study and wait two years before starting their businesses. Many of our students are not happy waiting two terms!

  I would, however, like to congratulate Professor Thompson on joining a small, exclusive, but growing club and wish him all the best for his new programme.

  Nigel Adams on November 2nd, 2008
• 5

  Nigel,

  Thanks for the information, it’s great to hear that there are several courses available to support the future of entrepreneurship in the UK.

  John on November 2nd, 2008
• 6

  At what point is one able to apply for this course. I am definately interested.

  Susan on November 19th, 2009
• 7

  If you are interested in John Thopmson’s course at the University of Huddersfield, the next intake will be in September 2010.

  If you are interested in the BSc Business Enterprise programme at the University of Buckingham, the next intake is in mid January 2010. Please see http://is.gd/22eEh or e-mail: nigel.adams(at)buckingham.ac.uk for more information.

  Nigel Adams on November 25th, 2009
• 8

  Nigel,

  Thanks for the prompt reply to Susan.

  As there is often some interest in these courses would you like to send me, or have someone send me a guest post about the BSc Business Enterprise programme at the University of Buckingham?

  Regards, John

  John on November 25th, 2009