Probably the best known entrepreneur is billionaire Sir Richard Branson who has learnt on-the-job.

The origins of Richard's creative spirit can be traced back to his school days where his first enterprise was a student advisory service. At 20 he founded the mail order record company Virgin records, which were subsequently sold for $1 billion.

The Virgin group has always thought outside the box and taken a different approach to rail and aircraft travel. Richard's own adventuring spirit has been evident in world record breaking attempts boat in the Virgin Atlantic Challenger and by hot air balloon in the Virgin Atlantic flyer. In 1999 Richard Branson was knighted for 'Services to Entrepreneurship'.

Entrepreneurship is therefore a much valued commodity in leadership and management in this country and a number of programmes are available from ILM to ensure learners enhanced their work-based practice by learning from others and being encouraged to think laterally.

Under this programme, newly approved Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM) centre, The Watershed has helped enterprising individuals to explore enterprise, start an enterprise and survive and grow their businesses.
 
These are not your average, stereotypical small businessmen or women either, but rather people who have been long-term unemployed, are currently studying at undergraduate, sixth form or school, as well as, full-time employees looking for an added challenge.
 
Dean Maragh, Principal at The Watershed Enterprise Consultants explains:

'Anyone looking to set up a small or medium sized business will soon know how hard running and developing it successfully can be. At The Watershed we believe that what you'll need is a reliable, independent business adviser you can turn to with confidence - that and an ILM qualification in Preparing for Enterprise.'
 
The Watershed are able to run the ILM's suite of Enterprise Qualifications also including Levels 2 and 3, Awards and Certificates and Starting Your Enterprise, contact Dean directly on 0800 068 0897 if you want to attend or if you want a course for your learners.