No time to read this? Here's Julie reading it instead:
I confess that I'm feeling unusually proud. I've recently been awarded Honorary Fellowship of the newly launched Institute of Enterprise and Entrepreneurship (the IOEE). The IOEE is the first learning Institute dedicated to recognising the profession of enterprise and entrepreneurship, both in the UK and internationally. It's also what's been missing in the business support arena, in my opinion.
IOEE's vision is to grow a membership of business owners and mentors. What makes it unusual and, for the average business owner most exciting I think, is that there are membership options for all levels of business owner experience and expertise, for all business sizes and ages, and for all sectors and geographic regions.
For a surprisingly reasonable annual fee, IOEE will award you full member status if you can demonstrate that you have the skills and knowledge required to start and successfully run your own enterprise.
To be eligible for full membership you can have built your own big business with hundreds of employees, or be self-employed and working from home. As long as you have gained the enterprise skills and know–how and have applied these, in practice, to develop your own enterprise then you will be recognised as a Member of the Institute. You'll also be entitled to use the letters MIOEE after your name, which is a nice touch for those of us with years of experience but no degree (I've joked in the past that I do have a BSC... a bronze swimming certificate).
As a member, you'll also have access to the full range of benefits, and by joining and showing your support at the beginning, you'll be able to help shape the future of the Institute. It's not often you get to do that.
IOEE are offering reduced Founder membership rates in the first year, and if you are willing to become a mentor, you'll be eligible for a reduced fee membership fee of only £50 per year.
We finally have an organisation that recognises the value of day-to-day experience when it comes to business, enterprise and entrepreneurship.
A brilliant and welcome addition to business support.
Visit the Institute of Enterprise and Entrepreneurship to find out more
