The Open University (OU) is thrilled to announce the addition of two new Entrepreneurs in Residence (EIRs) who will work with the university to help aspiring business owners.
IT and Telecoms entrepreneur, Ben Partridge, and Scottish entrepreneur and investor Russell Dalgleish join a dynamic group of business professionals bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to support the OU’s Open Business Creators project. This ground-breaking entrepreneurship initiative provides support to staff, students, and alumni who are looking to grow their businesses and ideas
Ben Partridge has spent over 30 years in the IT and telecoms industry and founded several successful businesses. As Head of Learning and Innovation at Derby University, he led the unit to a surplus of £1.2 million and has held previous EIR posts at the University of Surrey and the Satellite Applications Catapult. He is currently Director of Ashby House which supports business accelerators, incubators and growth organisations with a complete programme of business support.
On joining the OU’s EIR programme he said:
“I have a background in starting and exiting businesses and, along the journey, received a lot of help, advice and support from more experienced entrepreneurs. The opportunity to work with The Open University and its excellent Open Business Creators programme is a chance to give a little back and support the next generation of entrepreneurs as they start or continue their journey.”
Russell Dalgleish is the Founding Managing Partner of Exolta Capital Partners and the Founding Chair of the Scottish Business Network. He has a notable track record in the international technology sector and plays a pivotal role in advising and supporting business leaders and entrepreneurs in achieving global success. He is also the Founding Director of Net Zero Nation, a non-profit organisation addressing carbon footprint reduction in SMEs, and actively works to address gender imbalances in business through support for the Association of Scottish Businesswomen and Changing the Chemistry organizations.
On joining the EiRs project he said:
“I was delighted to be selected for the honour of taking up the Entrepreneur In Residence role with The Open University. My passion today is to support the entrepreneur and I feel the Open Business Creators (OBC) programme offers something not currently available in the UK market. By providing OU graduates, alumni and anyone looking to start or scale a business with access to funding, mentorship and learning resources, the OBC programme has the potential, as it scales, to be a gamechanger for the aspiring entrepreneur. At a time when education and learning are being transformed by technology, I believe the OU is in a superb position, as a leading distance e-learning and research institution, to empower future UK business leaders.”
The Open Business Creators programme is designed to empower individuals across the four UK nations to embark on and progress on their entrepreneurial journeys. By equipping participants with tools and resources, facilitating virtual events, and offering a mentorship programme, the initiative aims to cultivate a new generation of business creators. Aligned with the university’s commitment to opening up opportunities, the programme provides mentorship, as well as access to cutting-edge facilities and seed investment.
The Entrepreneurs in Residence at the OU is a driving force for entrepreneurship and innovation within the OU community, offering invaluable guidance to employers, OU partners, students, staff, and alumni. By sharing their knowledge and real-world experiences, the EIRs help individuals develop the essential skills needed to navigate the challenges of launching and growing a business.
The OU’s Entrepreneurs in Residence are:
Julian Hall
- Founder of Ultra Education and co-founder of Take Your Shot Studios.
- Certified business mentor, speaker, author, and co-writer of three university degrees in entrepreneurship.
- Recipient of the British Citizen Award for Education.
Safaraz Ali
- Founder of Multicultural Apprenticeship Alliance and CEO of Pathway group.
- Social entrepreneur with a focus on skills, employability, and the care sector.
- Published business author and diversity, equality and inclusion champion.
Mags Byrne
- Founder of Estars and First for Players.
- Former CEO and director at the English Premier League, Football Association England, and England Boxing.
- Dual qualified lawyer in Wales, England, and the Republic of Ireland.
Ravinder Gino Hoonjan
- Director at Personal Progress and Bright Minds Consulting.
- Neuro Linguistic Programming Practitioner and mindset coach specialising in company culture and mental health.
Alex Cole
- CEO of Tin Ventures.
- Venture builder, ESG practitioner, and Chair of the West Midlands Race Equality Taskforce.
Russell Dalgleish
- Founding Managing Partner of Exolta Capital Partners,
- Founding Chair of the Scottish Business Network.
- Founding Director of Net Zero Nation
Ben Partridge
- IT and Telecoms entrepreneur
- Director of Ashby House
Get involved
Those interested in participating in the EIR programme can contact Open-Business-Creators@open.ac.uk with any questions.
Visit Open Business Creators from the OU for advice on starting your business and the available support.
Take a free OpenLearn Entrepreneurship short course to help you transform your business idea into a reality as well as our recent collaboration with Barclays Eagle Labs
