Year in Enterprise | Loughborough Enterprise Network

What we do

Study - Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Education throughout your Degree.

As well as all of our extra-curricular enterprise activities, Loughborough Enterprise Network also enables all students to have access to enterprise and entrepreneurship education through their programme of study.

Through optional modules such as Entrepreneurship and Innovation (non-Business students) and Small Business Issues (Business students), plus targeted modules such as Business Management (Electrical Engineering students), we have something for everyone.

On top of this, our Placement Year in Enterprise is a scheme that enables students with a business idea to turn it into a reality with the help and support of the wider University and Loughborough Enterprise Network.

As an alternative to the traditional placement year or study abroad options available, students can take part in the Year In Enterprise programme between the second and third year of their degree. Training and mentoring are provided as part of this so that students can make the most of their year.

Are you a student with a potential business idea wishing to discuss the Year in Enterprise in more detail? Click below to attend one of our briefing sessions with our academic lead, Amanda Berry.

To see the range of student businesses that have taken part in this programme previously, click the Gallery button below.

Amanda also runs our IDEA programme on campus - an extra-curricular summer camp offering talented early-stage students the opportunity to work across engineering and business disciplines to develop business ideas. Find out more below.

• Application form to be submitted via your own School Placement Office by Friday 2nd February 2024.

• Interviews to assess capability - the business idea must be suitable and viable. This will be judged by the interview panel, which will include a selection of academic tutors and enterprise mentors.

Prior to embarking on their Year in Enterprise (YinE) the student must:

• Complete all relevant paperwork for the placement office.

• Complete a company risk assessment evaluating their business (to be completed after instruction on the first training day).

Prior to starting trading the student must:

• Register their business with Companies House

• Take out relevant insurance for their business including public liability insurance and, if appropriate, professional indemnity insurance.

To obtain the DPS on graduation, the self-employed student must satisfactorily complete:

• A minimum of 45 weeks (excluding holidays) working in their own business.

The DPS requirements for their school.
A competent display of performance throughout the year including attendance and participation in the compulsory training programme.
Self-employed placement students must maintain good conduct and uphold the reputation and standards of their company and the University.

• A member of staff from SBE will be designated as the student’s placement manager who will provide access to mentors, Entrepreneurs in Residence and other expert advice.

• The student‘s own school will appoint a visiting tutor who will assess the work that leads to the DPS

Boot camp – a compulsory 3-day workshop (25th to 27th June 2024) where all the YinE students attend together to meet each other and learn the basics. A programme of topics will be covered by a variety of experts: risk assessment, market research, competitor analysis, customer personas, legal/tax, finance, marketing.
3 subsequent single training days – spread throughout the year (10^th Sept 2024, 14^th Jan 2025, 8^th Mar 2025) to track progress; meet with business experts and mentors to encourage timely completion of DPS assignments. Further topics will be included in each training day and students will be able to request specific training if required, e.g. more detailed finance.

3 Catch up sessions (Wed afternoons in Oct, Nov, Dec dtaes tbc) in person or over MS Teams.

It is anticipated that the majority of students will work from home for the year but if they wish to spend some time on campus, they have access to the Loughborough Enterprise Network Start-up lab in the STEM building.

There are limited amounts of funding available on a competitive basis as grants from the University. If students wish to apply for funds before starting teh Year in Enterprise, the Skill-Up Fund (up to £500) is open for applications from Oct - end of Nov and April - end of May.