Adam is the CEO of the Smarter Group Ltd. The Smarter brand includes Smarter Housing (www.smarterhousing.co.uk), Smarter Nights (www.smarternights.com), Smarter Hotels (www.smarterhotels.co.uk) and Smarter Holidays (www.smarterholidays.com).

Adam Arnold started Smarter Housing in August 2005, a specialist provider of high quality student accommodation. Tenants would benefit from a fast, free and easy search, no letting fees and complimentary wireless broadband. As an additional perk, brandishing the Smarter Housing key-ring would grant the bearer numerous discounts at shops, bars and restaurants in the local area.

He graduated from Warwick University (Economics Bsc) in 2005, He had £13,000 in student debt to repay, but his drive and dedication saw him raise £50,000 in just four months.

Adam set about developing a time-saving, stress-free solution to the problem of finding good quality student accommodation that benefited both the prospective tenants and landlord.

In August 2005 He formed the Smarter Group and, six months after graduation, launched my first company Smarter Housing Ltd..

Adam has also had his fair share of failures after starting two online social networking sites, SchoolLeavers.com and UniLeavers.com which vanished quickly.

Smarter Housing now manage over 300 student properties across Birmingham, Coventry (inc. Earlsdon and Royal Leamington Spa) and Nottingham and in recent months Adam Arnold has branched out into residential lettings and property sales. Further expansion into the provision of software for property managers and estate agents isn’t too far off.

In 2008 Adam Arnold founded Smarter Nights, a multi-faceted company in the entertainment sector. In addition to organising student parties and charity events, the company offers student discounts and savings through the Smarter Card and online food, drink and DVD ordering through Delivery Dan, the handy delivery man!

As a recognition of his early achievements, Adam Arnold is a Make Your Mark ambassador, a member of the Courvoisier Future 500.

I try to grow the Smarter Group into a monolithic empire as per Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group he said.

A book to look forward to

This is one of the books i am seriously looking forward to reading this year, A fan of Seth Godin and his principles, I think that this is going to be a very complete book which completely removes your thoughts on how things work or should work.

This book will change your live; I repeat this book will change your life.

Look forward in giving my reviews as soon as i get my hands on a copy
Oooh, The Excitement.

Click to purchase

How many times do we find ourselves searching on Google for lyrics to our favourite songs, I know i do, whilst most of us search for the most famous and updated lyrics, Milun tesovic decided to take it a step further, he decded to create his own lyrics site.

You just Type in “lyrics” in any one of the search engines (3rd website on that keyword in google) and you will be amazed by the number of lyrics site that comes up .

At 16 he launched MetroLyrics.com, Now, The 24-year-old canadian (Yugoslavian native) ownes the Internet’s fifth-largest song lyrics database, offering – thanks to a deal signed with lyric provider Gracenote earlier this year – nearly 800,000 song lyrics to music lovers worldwide – completely free of charge.

Although it reaches more than 35 million unique monthly visitors, receives 100 million monthly page views, and hosts more than 20,000 music fans on its site during peak hours.

It’s also totally legal. All MetroLyrics.com content is licensed, and the site compensates lyric owners – artists and writers. He’s company have exclusive lyrics Partnership for all AOL Music properties, Billboard.com, MTV and other top-ranked music sites.

Before starting up metro lyrics he said: he needed money to buy a car, I bet he can buy any car he wants now.

26 years old female entrepreneur Amanda Jones is the co-founder of Red button design.

“I think everyone who embarks on starting an enterprise should have a healthy understanding of the risks they are taking,” says Amanda, “As diving in regardless is not to be recommended. It is a very personal commitment and everyone has different risks to weigh up. For me my greatest fear is that which ‘might have been’, best put by Mark Twain in one of my favourite quotes:
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.

Here are some of her favourite quotes from Mark Twain.

So throw off the bowlines.
Sail away from the safe harbor.
Catch the trade winds in your sails.
Explore. Dream. Discover.”

Four things you don’t know about Amanda Jones…

1: I love to travel. For my 21st Birthday I was bought the ‘The Lonely Planet Travel Book’. It has a page for every country in the world. I stuck a post-it note to every page as a bookmark, and only remove the bookmarks once I have visited the country. My ultimate aim is to get rid of all the bookmarks!

2: When I was growing up I wanted to be a Forensic Pathologist (!)

3: Some people dream of retiring to a vineyard in Europe, I have aspirations of growing and roasting my own coffee in Asia. If I weren’t so busy with Red Button Design I’d love to run a gourmet coffee shop!

4: I am a Fellow of the RSA (Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures & Commerce).

For the full review, click here

Alex Pryce is a 21 year old poet, originally from Bangor, Northern Ireland, who is currently studying English at the University of Leicester.

Alex received a Creative Sparks award from Ignite! (then a National Endowments for Science, Technology and the Arts pilot programme) in June 2006. In 2007, she also received a bursary from the John Hewitt Society, and in 2008 was the winner of the G.S. Fraser Poetry Prize. Her poems have been published in Gists and Piths, Pomegranate, Agenda Broadsheet, Mslexia, Fortnight and nthposition.

Alex is Director of PoetCasting (www.poetcasting.co.uk), a UK based poetry podcasting enterprise, created in 2007. The site is funded by the Arts Council England. She has also provided podcasting services to the National Poetry Society, Salt Publishing and currently works on Magma Poetry’s website.

In 2008, she won the Art and Culture Woman of the Future Award, presented by Real Business Magazine, supported by Shell. She has featured in $uccess magazine and the RSA Journal (Spring 2009). Alex is a member of the Inspiral Women’s Network, and is a Fellow of the RSA.

Internet poet Alex Pryce has been dubbed the ‘one to watch` in the art world by judges of the Women of the Future Award. The youngest category winner at just 20 years old, Alex picked up the Booz & Company Art and Culture Woman of the Future Award for her work conceiving and launching PoetCasting, a popular poetry podcasting enterprise which secured Arts Council funding earlier this year.

The judges said: “Alex`s success is an outstanding example of what can be achieved with clear vision and dedication -showing established organisations operating in this field the way forward. She is also plainly interested in her work for what it can do for others rather than for her own gratification.”

PoetCasting (www.poetcasting.co.uk) showcases poets from all backgrounds who share the medium of the internet – a place that poets can be read and heard in one place. The site features the traditional sense of podcasting where poets simply read their work. The initiative has received funding by NESTA – supporting innovation in science, technology and the arts – and Ignite! which works with young people to promote creativity.

Alex said: “The arts has historically been a man`s world – we haven`t even had a female poet laureate yet – so it is fantastic to be recognised. It would be amazing to one day be a mentor for women in the arts like the director of the Poetry Society, Jules Mann, has been to me.”

23 Years old Samantha waine is the founder of the clothing line – Dirtypretty.co.uk – A company she founded that Produces collections of affordable, eco-friendly clothing, Dirty Pretty, creates one-off garments using vintage fabrics and antique trims.

The Bridgnorth entrepreneur is already making waves in the industry, already showcased her collection in the London show and already getting success and orders through her website, the environmentally friendly clothing line is already feeling at home in the industry.

The University of Plymouth student’s online company offers a luxury clothing brand made entirely from recycled materials and waste from large textile companies.

“I was part of the Unipreneurs award finalists, where my idea to create a luxury recycled fashion brand got into the semi final,” she said.

Go Samatha!

Enterprising Young Brits Awards is a great opportunity to get the spotlight shining on you and your venture!

Are you following your entrepreneurial dream? Have you successfully mixed creativity with commercial flair, or demonstrated real determination in turning your ideas into reality? If so the Daily Mail Enterprising Young Brit Awards could be right up your street.

Run by Enterprise UK, in partnership with the Daily Mail, the Institute of Directors and the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, the competition is open to anyone aged 30 and under who has made their idea happen in a new, innovative or inspiring way.
Why enter?

We’re calling for entries now. Do you want to be in with a chance to win £1,000 and money-can’t-buy-profile for your venture? If so get your application in to us before 5 March 2010!

Not only do lucky winners receive £1,000 for their business but they also get valuable coverage in national media and an invitation to join the Enterprise UK Ambassador programme. As an Enterprise UK Ambassador they will get a chance to network with some of the UK’s top entrepreneurs and help us inspire the next generation of Richard Bransons and Anita Roddicks!
Categories:

You can enter up to two of the categories below:

* New startup – For enterprising individuals who have started their own business, large or small within the past three years.
* Social, ethical or environmental – For ventures combining the principles of a successful business with an emphasis on the social, ethical or environmental benefits it can provide.
* Teen – For anybody aged 13 – 19 who is making their enterprising idea happen
* Creative – Rewarding enterprising individuals in the creative industries such as fashion, music, design or the arts.
* Open category – Entrants whose business does not immediately fit into one of the four categories above are welcome to enter the Open category.

Enter now!

The Apprentice Manchester, sponsored by Rolls Royce, is a student competition organised by Manchester Entrepreneurs Society.

www.apprentice-manchester.co.uk

22nd to the 26th of March 2010

First prize will be £1000

Open to all students from the University of Manchester, Salford University and Manchester Metropolitan University

Applications should be done individually, and then individual students will be put into teams.

APPLICATIONS CLOSE 1ST OF MARCH
To apply email your:
- Name
- University
- Student Number
- Course
To : apply@apprentice-manchester.co.uk

We will then hold interviews in the first week of March.

Come and speak to us at MBS East or the University Place Foyer between the 1st-14th of February 11am-4pm

It is the first of its kind to run in the city aimed at young, driven and determined students. Running from the 22nd to the 26th of March 2010, it is a week long event based in and around Manchester University. It will pit only the most driven and focused teams against each other in a series of challenges, ranging from selling products for charity, to hosting and promoting club nights in Manchester.

This week long, intensive programme is open to all students at Manchester, Salford and Manchester Metropolitan University, as well as a select number of secondary schools in the Manchester area. First prize will be £1000, and will be presented by at the closing ceremony of the competition on the last day.

This programme is intended to not only provide a week of business-orientated excitement, but also be a talking point for future interviews, as well as looking great on a CV. It will show not only curiosity and competence for innovation and entrepreneurship but also the drive for excellence that many employees feel is missing in the graduating students of today.

For further information, and more details about the challenges, please email us at:
apply@apprentice-manchester.co.uk

WILL YOU BE FIRED?

Are you interested in enterprise around science, technology, engineering and maths?

Do you want to get the scoop on the latest industry opportunities and trends?

Do you want to develop your enterprise knowledge, skills and network?

The top university students, staff, graduates and researchers – as well as members of the South East enterprise community will come together to get inspired and develop the knowledge, skills, network and experiential opportunities necessary to launch STEM enterprises.

>Who attends?

Students, staff, researchers, graduates, local business professionals, and major corporate partners from any university, discipline, level of study or field of specialization from across the South East region.

>Why attend?

From inspirational speakers and an industry trends panel to practical workshops and experiential business creation, pitching and networking opportunities, delegates will have the opportunity to meet and engage with leading STEM entrepreneurs and develop their network and skills. Engage with Microsoft, BAE Systems, Investors, Leading Academics and Entrepreneurs!

The events feature keynote entrepreneur speakers, an industry tends panel, workshops with NACUE, Business Boffins and Rob Geraghty from the Wow Factor, as well as speed networking and a pitching competition.

All delegates who complete the one day course will receive an Official STEM Enterprise Certificate of Participation and ongoing business and mentorship support from NCGE.

It’s Free!

>Where and When

Oxford (Feb 10)
Reading (Feb 15)
Southampton (Feb 19)
Oxford (Feb 24)
Reading (March
Southampton (March 29)

SPACES ARE LIMITED, SO REGISTER TODAY! http://www.flyingstartonline.com/public/fsworkshops/upcoming

For more information, visit: http://www.flyingstartonline.com/stem and give yourself the leading edge.

The Global Social Venture Competition is the largest and oldest student-led business plan competition providing mentoring, exposure, and $45,000 in prizes for social ventures from around the world. Start forming a team today to submit your executive summary by January 20, 2010*!

Winning plans in the past have ranged from global health to microfinance, from cleantech to education, from fair trade to community development, from business concepts to operating companies, and have included for-profit and non-profit models.

ENTRANT REQUIREMENTS

· Every team must include at least one member who is a current student in ANY graduate business program or who has graduated from any graduate business program within the past 24 months.

· Operating companies are welcome to enter, though they must be less than 3 years old (as measured by first revenue or first patent issued).

· Plan can be for a for-profit or non-profit as long as either can be financially self-sustaining at scale.

For full details please visit: www.gsvc.org