Final-year and Master’s Business and Management students at the University of Westminster took part in a World Café event, which brought together academics, investors and alumni to help develop their confidence and entrepreneurship skills.
Westminster’s seventh annual Entrepreneurship World Café took place on October 13 to help final-year students on the University’s Business Management (Entrepreneurship) BA Honours programme build confidence in communicating their business ideas, as part of the Commercialising an Enterprise module. Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Enterprise Development MSc students were also invited to join.
By providing students with access to a range of industry experts, including academics, investors, entrepreneurs and Westminster alumni, the World Café event allowed them to gain a wide range of feedback and insight into their business propositions. This helped students to refine their ideas ahead of a poster event the following week and ultimately prepare for the final assessed pitch presentations of their degrees.
Industry experts at the World Café
The session began with short introductions from each expert, who shared their background, entrepreneurial journey and general advice with attendees. Students then sat in groups at café-style tables, which experts rotated around to provide each participant with a unique insight into their scaling-up strategy.
Students then had the opportunity to hear an inspiring talk from guest speakers Marc and Wren Fegarsky, Westminster alumni and founders of branding and creative studio Schparkly. They are also part of the Westminster Enterprise Network (WeNetwork), which brings together students and recent graduates with industry professionals to develop their entrepreneurial skills in real-life business settings.
Many similar projects will take place at Zone29, the University’s new home for careers and enterprise which is due to open in Spring 2026. Zone29 provides students and graduates with access to work-related programmes, opportunities and experiences, and will connect students from all backgrounds to industry professionals to build the confidence and networks they need to succeed.
Industry expert Chantel Wedderburn
About the experience one student said: “I’m glad I got to talk to many individuals today who gave me essential advice to pursue my business with the right steps, such as Marc, Wren, and Nick. I understood how important it is to start from scratch with creativity and passion, and to be resilient with my next moves.”
Chantel Wedderburn, founder of BestofBoth Boutique in Brixton who took part in the event, commented: “I was honoured to be invited to the University of Westminster’s Entrepreneurship World Café and to engage with the final-year undergraduate and Masters students. The event was both insightful and inspiring — a valuable reminder that, regardless of where one is on their entrepreneurial journey, there is always something new to learn and continual room for growth and improvement.”
About the event Darrell Kofkin, Senior Lecturer in Entrepreneurship, said: “Since its inception in 2018, the World Café has become a cherished cornerstone of the Commercialising an Enterprise module. More than just an event, it’s a celebration of feedback, community and entrepreneurial spirit. This gathering unites students from across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes with faculty from the Entrepreneurship team, supported by WeNetwork and CETI. Through authentic, formative feedback experiences, students refine their pitch voices and grow in confidence—while we collectively nurture a vibrant, collaborative learning culture that empowers the next generation of changemakers.”
The Entrepreneurship World Café directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 5: Quality Education and 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
Find out more about Business and Management courses at the University of Westminster.
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