Entrepreneur Feedback Questionnaire Responses

Transcription

1 Entrepreneur Feedback Questionnaire Responses In total 30 feedback sheets 1. In light of the course objectives, please mark a plus if you feel that you improved, a check if you stayed the same, and a minus if your performance declined during the course. 1) Show up on time, contribute, and adhere to a demanding work schedule. 2) Construct a personal budget and analyse a financial statement. 3) Bootstrap and leverage with limited resources. 4) Ask for help and take advice. 5) Work with others effectively and team projects. 6) Communicate on line and use basic social networking technologies. 7) Build a business network and community. 8) Exemplify business etiquette and behaviour. 9) Negotiate when faced with resistance or disagreement. 10) Promote your career and/or venture proposition. Ratings of the 10 course objectives

2 The feedback shows that most of the students feel they improved in the areas of all the settled objectives. The most positive feedback was given to the objectives 4 (Ask for help and take advice) and 5 (Work with others effectively and team projects). The objective with the lowest score was objective 6 (Communicate on line and use basic social networking technologies). 2. What did you hope to gain from the HERA entrepreneurship training? Most of the participants hoped to gain from the HERA entrepreneurship training business knowledge and learning of new skills. Under the skills the participants mentioned communication, marketing, networking and leadership skills. Managing finances was named many times and it s shown in the diagram separately from the general business knowledge and skills.

3 3. What did you gain? In accordance with the hopes regarding the training, the participants feel that they gained from the training mainly business knowledge and ideas. Many of the participants gained also confidence. More than half of the participants who answered to the previous question that they hope to gain new skills from the training, didn t name new skills, when they were asked what they gained. 4. What were the three best aspects of the entrepreneurship training?

4 Statistically the three best aspects of the training were confidence building, the speakers and networking/meeting people. Additionally to these, knowledge, teamwork, values, budgeting, negotiating and leadership were also named several times as the best aspects. 5. On what topics you need more training? At the end of the training many of the students felt that they need more training on finance. While, networking, presentation/public speaking and social media skills were also mentioned several times as areas where more training is needed. 6. What key recommendation do you have to improve the training? As key recommendations the most mentioned were discipline and time management, which were important for the participants in terms of attention, contribution and respect no talking when someone is delivering their ideas, time keeping to avoid others to feel neglected. Some more key recommendations from the participants: More time for practical exercises especially when dealing with technological topics (budgeting, networking, writing proposals). Practicing the things what are learnt. More networking, meeting people Role play, group play, one on one and group discussions Staying focused on one idea someone to help with this. Speakers should ask if topic is covered by someone else instead of repeating it.

5 Speakers should check students English skills (they are too shy to ask if they don t understand some word). Two weeks is too short to learn a subject like entrepreneurship. Effective and clear communication More mentors in the design field Give more time to parents with children. 7. Do you feel ready to go further in your venture and/or career? Yes/No. If not what further help would you like from HERA? The participants who answered No specified that the obstacles are related to personal circumstances, immigration process and to the status in the UK. Further help that the participants would like from HERA included mentors, advisors, contacts and advice from the speakers, more seminars, more practice specially on finance, funding and that HERA would remain accessible.

6 8. What do you hope to gain from your mentor? The participants hope to gain from their mentors mainly advice on business. Some of the participants had specified that they need advice on taxes, insurance, how to arrange the business plan, how to make profit, how to move forward and improve.

7 9. On a scale of 1 to 5 (with 1 = not good, 2 = poor, 3 = average, 4 = good, 5 = the best), how do you rate this course? The average score of the course is 4,7 on a scale of 1 to Other comments and suggestions? All the comments were positive and the participants expressed their feelings of appreciation and being supported. According to the comments HERA is a very good opportunity. Suggestions from the participants: Get students more involved by giving homework, more activities and tasks. More training time, so that each person can practice (budgeting, networking, writing the project/ plan). Share the top ideas from previous students it helps to get motivated. Stick to the timetable and breaks. Announce when and what changes. Icebreakers every morning to motivate and open up. Summaries at the end of the day from every person to encourage. Workshops, group discussions.

8 Summary The respondents gave to the HERA entrepreneurship training almost the maximum score. In general the feedback was very positive. The participants felt supported, they gained confidence and lots of knowledge. Some aspects that were repeatedly named and can be improved were, managing finances and social media skills/ computer skills. To improve these areas, the participants recommended to dedicate more time on these technical topics, practice and exercise more.