Sheffield Hallam enterprise scheme wins national award

A scheme that allows university students to set up their own businesses in a risk-free environment has won a major national award.

The Venture Matrix, run by Sheffield Hallam University and designed to improve students' entrepreneurial skills and employability, has won the National Enterprise Educator award. The award recognises education providers that are transforming enterprise education in the UK.

The Venture Matrix scheme gives students the chance to set up their own simulated business venture or social enterprise and trade with each other, mirroring the real world but in a risk-free environment. This way they can tackle real-life challenges without the risk and gain new skills for their future employment.

The scheme is open to students and university staff as well as organisations, businesses, and schools and colleges within the local region.

Charmaine Myers, who manages the Venture Matrix, said: "We're delighted to have won this award. It is fantastic recognition of the work we have been doing to promote enterprise and employability within the curriculum at the university.

"Venture Matrix allows students who have set up simulated companies to trade with one another and try out their ideas without risk."

The National Enterprise Educator Award 2010 is sponsored by the Higher Education Academy and was presented at the annual Entrepreneurship Educators Conference (EEC), which is collaboration between Enterprise Educators UK and the National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship (NCGE).