Entrepreneurship training for the visually impaired

Sheffield Students in Free Enterprise (Sheffield SIFE) has been established to promote student enterprise and social outreach programmes in the area.Sheffield SIFE is to be developed into a self-sustaining business devoted to encouraging community enterprise, led entirely by students from the University of Sheffield.

As a start-up business, Sheffield SIFE is organised with an executive board made up of students and a non-executive board of regional business figures.The non-executive board includes Sherry Kothari, from the White Rose Enterprise Centre, Tony Goulbourn, chief executive of the South Yorkshire Investment Fund, and Andrew Coombe, from Keeble Hawson Solicitors.

One initiative, led by Sheffield SIFE, entitled Business in Prisons, provides market research services for some of the 1,700 prisoners across the UK who are planning to create new businesses upon their release.Another scheme, the Visually Impaired Children's Enterprise Programme, works with visually impaired youngsters to help start up and mentor business plans in association with the Royal Society for the Blind.

A third scheme, the Sheffield Housing and Regeneration Project, aims to provide long-term housing solutions for Sheffield's homeless by converting derelict houses into liveable homes.Prof Bob Boucher, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sheffield, said: "It is essential that students today leave university with a sound head for business and confidence in the world of commerce. "Initiatives like this are an excellent way to build up those vital skills as well as give something back to the local community."

Tomas Tuominen, a second year student and Sheffield SIFE's managing director, said: "By supporting student-run enterprise and involving ourselves in hard-nosed business, we are set to become financially self-sustaining and fully able to provide unique services to local organisations and groups."The range of initiatives we are running reflects the existing level of imagination and flair in the team and this will continue to grow as our projects succeed."SIFE is a global organisation involving student entrepreneurs on more than 1,800 university campuses.