On the 15th of November as part of Enterprise Week (12th-16th November 2007), Brackenwood Windows and Conservatories opened their doors to 30 students from the Cranbourne Business and Enterprise College - for an inspiring entrepreneurial afternoon.

The inspirational event comprised of a series of exciting talks from some of Basingstoke’s leading entrepreneurs followed by a workshop during which the students actively invented their own business idea.

The students then pitched their ideas to the Dragon’s Den style panel and the Judge, Mr David Medcraft - the founder & Managing Director of Brackenwood Windows. The event was such a success that similar ones will be run in the future involving more students, schools, charities and local businesses.

Running between 1 p.m. - 4 p.m, the Enterprise Week afternoon kicked off with an unbeatable line up of speakers including David Medcraft, Brackenwood’s Managing Director, Liz Jackson, Managing Director of Great Guns Marketing (a telemarketing company) and Jane Stewart, the Marketing Manager from Basingstoke shopping center Festival Place. (more…)

Enterprise Week is an annual week of events and activities running from the 12th-16th of November 2007. Taking place across the country, businesses, charities, schools and colleges will be holding events and activities in celebration of enterprise in all its forms. Last year’s Enterprise Week saw over 448,000 people taking part in 3,184 events nationwide – 44% more than the previous year. Over 300 of these events took place in the South East and this year aims to be even bigger.

The South East of England Development Agency (SEEDA) co-ordinates all activity across the South East, encouraging backing for the campaign from public, private and academic partners throughout the region as well as managing all Enterprise Week activity. There are already lots of young people involved in entrepreneurial activities in the South East.

Brackenwood are spearheading the week by holding two events to celebrate enterprise. Managing Director David Medcraft will be holding a talk with students from Cranbourne Business and Enterprise College regarding how he set up his company using a mere £10, 000 loan.

Brackenwood’s second event will be an entrepreneurial workshop, held at their Basingstoke show room to inspire local students to realise their entrepreneurial dreams. They will be opening their showroom for an afternoon during enterprise week and are inviting entrepreneurs from across the South East, especially Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire to come and talk to local students.

Managing Director David Medcraft enthused,

This is a fantastic opportunity for all businesses in the area to give something back to the community and to share their business acumen. We are holding two events this year in celebration of our 20th anniversary and welcome any other local businesses to get involved.