Campus Celebrity: Katy Dash

With Global Entrepeneurship Week coming up next week, we caught up with Student Ambassador Katy Dash to hear about the annual Spark conference which encourages students to set up their own business! We also discuss her involvement with IGNITE! 

Course: Drama

Year: Graduated in 2014

What does your work with IGNITE entail?

My role with IGNITE is to support student entrepreneurs at the university. I meet with students through one-to-ones, where a student will come with a business idea or proposition and I will work with them to understand, realise and validate their ideas. I also help run all of IGNITE’s events, including co-ordinating fortnightly workshops focused on specific skills or areas of entrepreneurship such as our Marketing Research workshop and Value Proposition. IGNITE works to guide and support student entrepreneurs to take the next step.

How did you get involved in IGNITE?

As Student Entrepreneur in Residence I spend half my time working at the Innovation Centre and half my time with IGNITE.  However, throughout my time at Uni, as a drama student, I did not have much involvement with IGNITE which is really sad, as I could have benefited greatly from their support. Therefore, my aim this year is to deliver IGNITE’s invaluable support to as many students as I can (and not just business students but students within the humanities or studying social sciences or at St.Lukes campus).

What is the Spark event?

Spark is so exciting! Spark is a free annual conference held at the Innovation Centre on campus to encourage and inspire Exeter’s young entrepreneurs. This year we have six of Exeter’s most successful, dynamic, exciting entrepreneurial alumni – including Solly from Instabear who is on the apprentice this year and Matt Morley from TickBox who is also doing very exciting things! It’s going to be a great event and I encourage anyone interested in business/ entrepreneurship to come along. Don’t worry… you don’t have to have an idea or have started your own business; Spark is simply about encouraging and inspiring students. You’ll also have a great opportunity to network over wine, beer and nibbles; meeting guest speakers, like-minded students, graduates, and key people from IGNITE and the Innovation Centre.

And best of all, it’s completely free! However booking is essential so to book please visit:

What advice would you give those looking to start their own business?

Be brave! Starting a business can be scary and hard work but if you are passionate about your idea, prepared to really work at it and have an open-minded attitude then you’ve already got the starting blocks for creating your own business. Use what’s available to you; come to IGNITE! We’re here to support you every step of the way.

What are you hoping to do after University?

In my final year of studying at Uni, I founded a children’s theatre company called PaddleBoat. PaddleBoat comprises of five Exeter graduates who are committed to delivering high-quality productions and workshops for children and families across the South-West. The dream is that PaddleBoat grows into an established rural touring company for children in primary schools, theatres and at festivals. We believe in theatre that engages with the young minds of tomorrow – as well as reminding every adult that they too can rediscover their own imaginations.

Which business person has most inspired you?

Michael Morpurgo. Not only are his books award-winning, inspirational and now being realised in the theatre (War Horse and An Elephant in the Garden) but he was also awarded an MBE for services to youth when he set up his ‘Farms for City Children’. His farm offer urban children from all over the country a unique opportunity to live and work together for a week at a time on a real farm in the heart of the countryside. He was also the third Children’s Laureate, dedicated to highlight the importance of the role of children’s books. His enthusiasm, inspiration and imagination have been injected, via many creative business initiatives, into book-lovers, school children, theatre-goers and many more. He is an ambassador for children’s literature and his work stimulates my company

Be sure to come along to the Spark Conference on the 21st November and be inspired by Katy and guests including our very own Soloman Akhtar!