BHCC - Brighton & Hove Chamber of Commerce

The Institute of Enterprise and Entrepeneurs is the UK's first, dedicated learning institute for anyone thinking about, starting or running their own business.

The Institute of Enterprise and Entrepreneurs has been over 15 years in the making and exists to make sure that all those involved in enterprise are able to access the support they need, when they need it. All of work is informed by research into what other entrepreneurs do and have done in order to be successful. It’s about small business owners helping each other.

Although we plan to add more levels of membership to the IOEE we first want to create the backbone of the institute with our founder members, to shape the future of their own enterprise learning institute. Everyone who joins in the first year will be given ‘Founder’ status and they will retain that status for the duration of their membership.

This first year is all about working with the initial members to create the future Institute, including the levels, recognition and services they wish to see. We don’t want to create a bureaucracy. We want the IOEE to be run by the members for the members. In the first year we are concentrating on three key types of members, who will help us to develop the IOEE. We will do this by:

1.Building up the membership from people we know who have the enterprise skills and know-how but have just not yet been recognised for them.

2.Building up the membership of enterprise owners who want to be mentors. Those who are already experienced and competent mentors will be matched with those people, particularly pre start and start- ups, who are looking for a mentor. Those people who want to become mentors but have not yet gained enough experience will be helped to gain that experience by engaging with IOEE Mentors.

3.Building up the associate membership of prospective enterprise owners who are looking for help, particularly a mentor, to gain their ‘survive and thrive’ enterprise skills and know-how.

4.Building up a small group of exceptional Founder Fellows of the Institute. These are entrepreneurs who are well respected within the enterprise community and who have shown their total commitment to learning and support in enterprise and entrepreneurship. Many will have supported SFEDI over many years. Some will be household names but all will set the tone, develop the services and membership benefits  and ensure the authenticity of the IOEE.

For more information about membership, please see http://ioee.co.uk/membership/join-now/