Interns take the Springboard to success
Posted on 21 August 2012
For the summer vacation, University of York students Tom Williams and Mark Ross Smith will be based in the newly launched Student Enterprise Space in the Springboard business incubator area of the Ron Cooke Hub at Heslington East.
The University is giving Tom and Mark funding, office facilities and additional support to help them pursue and develop their innovative business ideas.
Economics student Tom, and his business partner, James Seear, have set up Recyclabook, a company that gives students a way to sell textbooks they no longer need, as well as buy books at cheaper prices than anywhere else. Recyclabook has plans to launch a cycle delivery team to ensure deliveries are quicker, cheaper and more environmentally friendly.
Tom’s enterprise internship will allow him to dedicate his time fully to Recyclabook and expand its operations. He says: “The internship means a lot, it’s given us the opportunity to really give Recyclabook a go in York, something that we might not have otherwise have had the chance to do.”
Mark, a Computer Science graduate, is eager to use the enterprise internship to bring his business plans to fruition. With another York graduate, Sam Rowley, he runs Divisi, a technology consultancy company that specialises in the creation of high-impact ‘designer’ websites and smartphone applications.
Mark and Sam are already working with a number of high-profile clients, but they hope for more success with their current venture, Iventzu. Iventzu is an events promotion platform which can be tailored for use at conventions, festivals and training weekends. Mark and Sam hope that the enterprise internship will help them to provide businesses of all sizes with access to competitively priced smartphone apps without long development timescales.
Being enterprising puts students in a great position for graduate employment. It’s about showing that you have the drive, ambition and creativity to put your ideas into action
Jessica Noon
The two enterprise interns are looking forward to developing their skills. Mark says: “Success aside, building your own business from the ground up gives you a great boost of confidence. You realise that your skills develop dramatically as you’re dropped in the deep end. This can only help you with your future ventures.”
The University Careers Service’s Enterprise Officer, Jessica Noon, adds: “Whether the students’ first businesses are successful or not, the outlook is positive. Even those who go on to decide setting up a business isn’t for them gain a raft of skills that employers seek.
“Ultimately, being enterprising puts students in a great position for graduate employment. It’s about showing that you have the drive, ambition and creativity to put your ideas into action – all skills and attributes that are desirable in an increasingly competitive job market.”
Notes to editors:
- The enterprise internship scheme is run by the University of York’s Careers Service. The Careers Service supports student employability skills development and career planning through a range of projects and programmes, including internship and volunteering opportunities; skills training; the York Award; enterprise development; employer workshops and fairs; and professional information, advice and guidance services.
- More information:
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