The Scotsman - Business - Inspiring new class of entrepreneurs

Scotland is actively encouraging university and college students to be entrepreneurs - and is providing training and other tangible support to back up the moral support. From Sharon Bamford, chief executive of the Scottish Institute for Enterprise (SIE) as quoted in The Scotsman:

"We are getting it right in schools now, with money from successful entrepreneurs pouring in. Until quite recently, school careers offices couldn't deal with entrepreneurs. In higher education, there has been a sea change and entrepreneurship is now seen as a skillset for graduates. It's now OK to start a business when you are at university. For many people, having the confidence just to get on with it is the key."

Before joining SIE, Bamford lectured in entrepreneurship at the Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, managed an incubator facility nurturing 14 young high-tech start-up and spin-out companies, and was director of the University of Edinburgh's flagship £100m science park development.

She says: "What my career has allowed me to do is to be able to identify with the often conflicting agendas of government, universities, SMEs and investors in the economic development arena...

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