Many educational institutions use the subject of Enterprise in an attempt to create aspiring entrepreneurs, chasing unicorns and driven by a desperation for newsworthy showcase businesses. But most staff don't have an enterprise education background, and have never run a business.
Crucially, most students will never run a business.
Meanwhile, under-resourced careers teams focus on CV development, falling behind as AI rushes past them.
The most effective vehicle for employability was in front of them all along: enterprise education, underpinned by entrepreneurial thinking.
You just need the right people.
For more than 23 years, I have designed and delivered enterprise programmes and trained the people who run them, helping to develop a culture of enterprise embedded across multiple curricula, including Business, Midwifery, Criminology, History, English, Film Studies, Architecture, and Creative Media.
I co-led the UK's largest enterprise-based sandwich-year programme at Sheffield Hallam University, contributing to the University's Times Higher Education Entrepreneurial University of the Year award in 2021. I ran a national network of more than 30 institutions for the Peter Jones Foundation. I delivered enterprise training internationally for the British Council and recruited and developed over 200 business volunteers to support learners for YE UK.
The focus of my work is to help young people think for themselves, back their own judgement, create opportunity and see what they're capable of.
"Graeme is one of the most passionate advocates of enterprise and entrepreneurship I have had the pleasure of working with and has supported numerous students and graduates to set up their own businesses/freelance practices during the time I have worked with him. His natural enthusiasm for enterprise education and knowledge of running his own business make him a fantastic Enterprise Adviser and an excellent role model for individuals new to this space - I've personally utilised many of the things I've learned from working with Graeme within my day-to-day work as a careers professional and would highly recommend any professionals interested in the enterprise education space follow or connect with him for the reasons above."
I build programmes from scratch and am experienced in 1:1 coaching and in delivering in classroom, lecture theatre, and workshop settings. I am a SFEDI-qualified adviser.
In 2023, Sheffield Hallam selected me from over 1,300 nominees for the Vice Chancellor's Outstanding Student Support Award.
I built the University's freelancer platform: a zero-fee student agency that provided freelance education and support, generating over £68,000 in paid work for undergraduate and graduate freelancers in 18 months.
For over a decade, I have operated as a freelancer alongside my employed work, and now I work for myself full-time.
I have also managed anxiety for most of my life, which is relevant because my work is about confidence and self-belief, and I would be a fraud if I pretended those come easily to everyone, including me. It's part of why I do this, and part of why I'm good at it.