Leeds College of Music is a success at Venturefest

Venturefest Yorkshire is a one day expo which brings together the region's finest science, technology and knowledge entrepreneurs, the professional services who support them and world-class business speakers.

Leeds College of Music's Knowledge Transfer department attended Venturefest this year on Wednesday 10 February and took with them budding entrepreneurs and current College students Oli Bentley and Sam Barratt and College Graduate Ben MacAvoy. University Showcase Exhibition Ben McAvoy represented the College in the University Showcase exhibition section of Venturefest with his business "Wave Media Productions" He took a studio with him and as well as playing his own music for animations, he invited people to compose their own music there and then. The University Showcase generated a lot of interest and throughout the day Ben's stand had numerous visitors. Ben not only managed to talk to a great number of business people from the region and secure business contacts, but he also had interest from someone who wants to meet with Ben about future investment in the company.

Regional Enterprise Awards
This year Leeds College of Music entered the Regional Enterprise Awards for the first time. Third year Jazz students, Sam Barratt and Oli Bentley represented the College in the Regional Enterprise Awards pitching their business "Northern Bloc Collective" to a panel of judges.
The pitch went well and although they didn't win, one of the judges, Jonathon Shipton (Asst Director of CBI seconded from Corporate Finance at Grant Thornton), came to speak to them afterwards to talk more about the Northern Bloc Collective and congratulate them on their successful pitch. He was interested and enthusiastic about the Northern Bloc Collective and told them they had been in the top three pitches and the decision on the winner had been really difficult.
 
Venturefest

L-R: Sam, Kamal, Ben and Oli at Venturefest

All in all the day went really well, and the College looks forward to showcasing more talented students and alumni in 2011.

Tags: Alumni
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