Conference looks to the future of local enterprise (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Conference looks to the future of local enterprise

12:10pm Friday 10th October 2008

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A PANEL of leading innovators came to Basingstoke to help provide direction, advice and focus to local businesses.

Organised by 3en Ventures, in conjunction with Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, The Hampshire ICT Futurology Conference, held at The Ark Conference Centre, attracted more than 100 business delegates.

Named after its goal of encouraging entrepreneurial enterprise, 3en Ventures is the borough’s very own investment fund – the first to be funded exclusively by a local authority.

3en focuses on hi-tech businesses in the Basingstoke and Deane area, primarily those involved in IT, telecoms, new media, electronics and software, and looks to support pre-revenue businesses, offering risk capital investment of up to £75,000.

On the Futurology conference panel was businessman and philanthropist Shahid Azeem, managing director of Surrey-based IT company Arcom, who recently appeared on Channel 4’s Millionaire’s Mission.

Mr Azeem praised Basingstoke and Deane for its foresight in setting up 3en Ventures.

He said: “It is absolutely unheard of for a council to fund a venture fund.

I think they should be commended for thinking commercially and attracting investors and start-up companies.

“If you look at most businesses now, they are SMEs and start-ups, and you have got to support them. When I first started running my own business, I wish I had the opportunities and access to events like this.”

During his presentation, Mr Azeem spoke about his upbringing and how he was a professional footballer for Aldershot.

His football career came to an end following an injury, but he bounced back by getting a data-processing job and he soon realised that he was adept at working in the field of IT.

The other speakers at the conference were James Brayshaw, an executive board member of Ordnance Survey, Michael Walker, responsible for research and development at Vodafone, Modwenna Rees-Mogg, from AngelNews, a commercial news service for angel and early-stage funded companies, and Ian Hughes, IBM consulting IT specialist.

Councillor Andrew Finney, leader of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, also spoke at the event and said how immensely proud the borough was of 3en Ventures.

He discussed why the South East England Development Agency has described Basingstoke as a “virtual gateway”, highlighting the borough as a diamond for growth, and said the borough “punches well above its weight in terms of its economic contributions to the UK economy”.

Cllr Finney also spoke about the council seeking input from the business community about its plans for the borough’s learning campus and the redevelopment of Basing View.

Cllr Finney told the audience: “Basingstoke is positive about the future, and committed to working in partnership with business – to exploit the benefits the future offers.

“We believe we have a vibrant, strong business base on which to expand and we sincerely hope that we will see all of you opening new businesses, expanding your businesses in Basingstoke and, together, we are going to achieve success.”

To find out more about 3en Ventures, visit www.3enventures.com

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