Colette Henry

Entrepreneurship Education and Veterinary Medicine: Enhancing employable skills

Purpose – This paper has the purpose of exploring the potential for entrepreneurship education within veterinary medicine. It aims to examine some of the key themes in the entrepreneurship education literature, discuss the make‐up of the UK veterinary sector, consider veterinary curricula requirements and illustrate how entrepreneurship education can benefit veterinary students.Design/methodology/approach – The approach adopted by the authors includes a literature review, in‐depth discussion and the development of hypotheses for further study.Findings – Entrepreneurship education has the potential to make a valuable contribution to veterinary medicine curricula. This is due to the fact that the majority of veterinary graduates will work in or even own/co‐own a veterinary business (i.e. a small veterinary practice) at some point in their career. In this context, the authors illustrate how entrepreneurship education can enhance both employable and day one/year one skills. The high entry requirements for vet...

Gender in campus incubation: evidence from Ireland

Purpose – Women entrepreneurs face gender‐specific barriers surrounding access to: networks of information, assistance, finance and investment funds, in addition to socio‐cultural barriers. Business incubation literature indicates the supports provided to tenant incubator companies (including: assistance from incubation managers, access to academic institutions and facilities and access to contact networks), generally increase survival rates and can accelerate growth in turnover, employment levels and export sales. Business incubators could, therefore, offer an ideal environment for women entrepreneurs to overcome many gender‐related barriers. The Irish Government has invested, via “Enterprise Ireland”, over €46 million in campus‐incubators but the gender composition of incubation tenants accessing this state funding has not been explored.Design/methodology/approach – A study of all “Enterprise Ireland” funded campus‐incubators in Ireland was undertaken between November 2006 and March 2007. A survey of 10...

Women and the Creative Industries: Exploring the popular appeal

Abstract This article explores the appeal of the creative industries and considers womens progression within the sector. Taking the designer fashion and publishing sectors as examples, the article aims to provide insights into womens creative development; to consider the particular gender biases that appear to be embedded within the creative sector; and to discuss why women are not recognized for their creative achievements to the same degree as men. A review of the literature highlights a general paucity of empirically-based studies and statistical data pertaining to women in the creative sector. Drawing on the womens entrepreneurship literature, the article posits that women are well suited to creative work and that the creative industries may offer them considerable potential in terms of employment and new venture creation. The article finds, however, that the same gender-related barriers that exist within other industry sectors are just as prevalent, if not more so, within the creative sector. Furthermore, even in a seemingly highly ‘feminized’ creative sector such as designer fashion, (gay) men are still better paid, hold more senior positions and are more likely to be recognized for their achievements. The need for empirical research across the various sectors that the creative industries comprise is highlighted.

The Veterinary Business Landscape: Contemporary Issues and Emerging Trends

The veterinary business landscape is extremely dynamic and highly competitive. Indeed, it is now widely recognised that managers within the broader veterinary industry need to be much more commercially aware than in the past, prompting the recognition of a significant skills gap in business and management (Lowe, 2009). This skills gap is recognised beyond the traditional practice management role, with some acknowledgement that managers in the veterinary science, diagnostics and genetics areas of the pharmaceutical, bio-science and pet food industries are experiencing similar difficulties. Recent literatures further platform the need for other veterinary professionals, such as advisors in government departments and those responsible for intensive livestock production units, to acquire business and management skills. Such trends, are not confined to the UK, rather, they would appear to be global phenomena.

Chapter 2 Encouraging women's entrepreneurship in the sciences: Women in veterinary medicine

Purpose – The chapter aims to explore womens entrepreneurship in the sciences, specifically, veterinary medicine, and to highlight future potential. Methodology/approach – Following a review of the extant literature, the chapter employs a single case approach to explore the experiences of a woman academic entrepreneur in the field of veterinary medicine. Findings – The findings support the view that women are significantly under-represented in the sciences (SET/STEM) both as professionals and as entrepreneurs. The chapter also finds that, due to a relatively low number of veterinary professionals currently working in industry and/or commercialisable research areas, the sector offers significant potential for entrepreneurship, particularly among women veterinarians. Research limitations/implications – Despite providing rich and meaningful insights that enhance understanding, the single case approach limits the potential for generalising the findings. Practical implications – Given the significant increase in the number of women entering veterinary education in recent years, the chapter has important implications for how gender is considered in the promotion of entrepreneurship within veterinary medicine curricula. Social implications – In view of the imminent gender shift within the profession, the case discussed in this chapter serves as an important role model to encourage more women to engage in entrepreneurship. Originality/value of chapter – As one of the few studies offering insights on womens entrepreneurship in veterinary medicine, this chapter helps enhance our understanding of the field.