On 26th September 2017, 36 teams from across the globe will converge in London for the Enactus World Cup. Here they will have the chance to present their projects and the impacts that they have made, and have the chance to win the prestigious competition. Enterprise is privileged to be one of the leading partners and sponsors for the three day event as part of our long standing partnership with Enactus, and we are very excited to see what solutions each team has created to solve social problems around the world.
What is Enactus and what do they do?
Enactus is a not-for-profit student society which operates in over 36 countries around the world and has a worldwide network of over 72,000 students, 1,730 universities and has impacted the lives of over 1,300,000 people. They work with students, academics and business professionals to develop innovative and inspiring solutions to society’s problems; ranging from programs to develop the social skills of homeless people, schemes that boost job security by allowing internet access for remote farmers or recycling certain waste products to generate revenue for communities. Enactus then holds regional, national and international competitions for the most successful students to present and report on their results, and share their challenges and successes.
Enterprise is proud to have been working with Enactus across the world
At Enterprise we are delighted to support Enactus’s good work across the planet and to have such a strong relationship between our organisations. Khaled Shahbo, Managing Director of the UK and Ireland, is particularly excited for the competition:
“As a Board Member I am personally very excited for the World Cup to take place so close to home. We have committed our support to the event and we are proud to have been the first host country sponsor.
Business is about creating meaningful partnerships that provide substantial benefits for all involved. Our relationship with Enactus is a perfect example of that. Through our partnership we have the chance to talk to some of the brightest young minds in the country.”
Enterprise as a company has benefitted from the perspective that Enactus students bring, and it is clear to see the partnership between the two organisations brings benefits to both parties.
“Our managers act as mentors and business advisors to teams on Enactus programmes at universities the length and breadth of the UK. Those managers are proud to be able to help develop the practical skills graduates need in order to get a head start when it comes to careers.
The Enterprise employees who sit on Enactus advisory boards and mentor students also become much better leaders, which in turn helps our business as they bring those skills back to the workplace. They also benefit from the fresh perspectives offered by Enactus students, which helps shape the way we do business.”
Enactus alumni are highly regarded by recruiters, and Enterprise has a strong record of hiring employees who have been members of such a prestigious society.
Why are recruiters so interested in Enactus students?
Firstly, Enactus students very often demonstrate effective leadership and teamwork skills. As a result of their projects, they are used to taking ownership for their own actions and delegating responsibility fairly. When they reach the workplace, those skills will help them fit seamlessly into the teams they need to work with.
Enactus students are also used to multi-tasking and have already developed a strong work ethic. They juggle hours spent on the project with their university commitments, and are used to meeting deadlines to ensure their project is successful. These are skills that will be needed in most, if not all, graduate jobs.
Finally, Enactus students are used to thinking outside the box. Take the example of the social project devised by the Enactus society based in the University of Melbourne, Australia; where homeless people were made tour guides to provide them with both the income and confidence to improve their lives. Enactus students are guaranteed to change any workplace they join with their innovative and evolutionary mind-set.
It’s because these are key qualities that make our employees successful that we have such a strong record of hiring Enactus alumni. Our program is designed to give our applicants the freedom to develop themselves and make their own business decisions, and any applicants with these qualities are able to excel. That’s because we know our success is down to our people and the opportunities that we give them, as Khaled Shahbo explains:
“Our business is founded on bright graduates – nearly 100% of our employees started on our graduate scheme, and that includes myself and our CEO, Pam Nicholson. Our graduate programme offers immediate responsibility, unrivalled business training, and fantastic prospects. Join us and you’ll learn our business from the ground up as well as get the chance to play a significant role in seeing it succeed.”
With proven career progression and genuine responsibility from the first day, we pride ourselves on our management scheme. If this sounds like an environment that will let you thrive and succeed, make sure you check out our graduate roles.
Finally, good luck to those involved in the 2017 World Cup from all of us at Enterprise. We are sure you’ll do yourself proud.