Entrepreneur academy giving students options

WHEN successful Geordie entrepreneur Rob Wood stumped up £1.25m of his own money to partner with Newcastle University, he hoped to inspire young people in the city to follow in his footsteps.

- TOM KEIGHLEY

The 59-year-old global businessman, who sold the company he founded in an £84m deal nearly 10 years ago, thinks the Rob Wood Enterprising Futures Academy will soon have a few success stories of its own to share.

It's now seven months or so since the launch of the eponymous initiative, and it has already helped students studying a variety of courses - from a first-year biology student to a post-graduate researcher in dentistry - to think about entrepreneurship as part of their future, whether that's starting their own business or using the approach to help further their career post-university.

"There was a realisation that it isn't as scary as they might have thought and that helping solve practical problems that businesses have is something that is within their realm," said Mr Wood.