Fantastic opportunity to help you grow your business

If you see yourself as a seriously ambitious entrepreneur, this is a fantastic opportunity to hone your skills and make global contacts through participation in the highly intensive Entrepreneurship Development Programme being held at MIT and run by their Sloan School of Management’s Entrepreneurship Center at the end of January 2010. HIE are sponsoring* six places for Highlands & Islands companies on EDP 2010. This fantastic opportunity is open to all Highlands and Islands entrepreneurs who can answer "yes" to the following questions:

• Do you describe your business as ambitious?
• Can you articulate your company goals for next 12 to 36 months?
• Can you describe how EDP participation will help achieve the goals?
• Can you describe what makes you stand out as an entrepreneur?
• Are you committed to improving long term customer relationships by enhancing the value delivered by the business?
• Are you committed to enhancing the company’s revenue and profit performance?
• Are you interested in building a company that can successfully compete on the global stage?
• Do you have a highly ambitious business plan you would like to develop using the help and inspiration of world-class entrepreneurs?
• Are you willing to share your experience with other aspiring Highlands and Islands entrepreneurs?
• Are you available on 24th – 29th January 2010?

The Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP) is a globally renowned business executive education course which introduces participants to MIT’s entrepreneurial education programs, technology transfer system, and global entrepreneurial network. The EDP covers the entire venture creation process, from idea generation to building viable global businesses, with special emphasis on the nurturing roles of businesses, universities, governments, and foundations. Using MIT’s entrepreneurial culture as a model, participants learn what they need to know in order to develop ideas into successful businesses and to increase entrepreneurial opportunities in their businesses, institutions, and regions.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise are seeking ambitious entrepreneurs who would like to take advantage of a unique opportunity to help their business reach its full potential and develop themselves as business leaders. The EDP participants learn to hone their customer focus and entrepreneurial skills, and to create a more favourable climate for innovation and entrepreneurship in their organisations which in turn will help develop the entrepreneurial ecosystem here in the Highlands & Islands. All applications will need to comply with the terms and conditions shown below.

Please click here for Terms and Conditions.

Key dates:

Interviews will be held between Wednesday 11th and Thursday 12th November 2009.

The six winning entrants will be notified by email by Friday 13th November 2009.

There will be a pre-EDP meeting for winning applicants in Inverness on Thursday 10th December 2009 which all winners will be required to attend.

The departure for Boston is planned to be on or around 23rd January 2010, returning on or around 31st January 2010.

How to apply:

To apply for this fantastic opportunity, complete the online application form at http://www.hie.co.uk/entrepreneurship-development-programme-competition-application.

The application form will require you to provide:

1. A short description of your business
2. Your business goals for the next 12-36 months
3. How participation in the Entrepreneurship Development Programme could help you to achieve those goals
4. Explaining what makes you stand out as an entrepreneur.

Don't miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to transform your business. For a full EDP course description and programme, follow the link: http://entrepreneurship.mit.edu/edp.php

More information about HIE’s EDP 2010 competition can be found at www.hie.co.uk/entrepreneurship  

Contact:

Any queries should also be addressed to Stephanie Anderson at Highlands and Islands Enterprise at stephanie.anderson@hient.co.uk or on 01463 244477 or Laura Dingwall at Highlands and Islands Enterprise at laura.dingwall@hient.co.uk or on 01463 244226.

Good luck!