Barclays sponsors UAE’s first government accredited entrepreneurship programme

DUBAI, 1st August, 2017 (WAM) -- Barclays has announced its sponsorship for the Mind Cloud Entrepreneurship programme, the UAE’s first government accredited initiative for entrepreneurs.

The initiative aims to elevate the entrepreneurship skills for participants, in collaboration with Dubai Business Women Council, DBWC, the UAE’s leading platform for the personal and professional development of women in the emirate and beyond.

The all-inclusive programme has drawn support of VIP facilitators including representatives from LinkedIn, who led the course tuition, and supports the UAE’s drive to build a knowledge-based economy, by attracting a wide-ranging audience from students to SME entrepreneurs, corporate employees to start-ups and scale-ups, with a full spectrum of tailor-made theoretical and practical courses led by successful entrepreneurs.

Commenting on the initiative, Andrew Mortimer, Managing Director, Country Manager, and Chief Operating Officer for Barclays MENA, said, "At Barclays, we are passionate about helping people and businesses achieve their ambitions, in the right way. The Dubai Business Women Council’s Mind Cloud Entrepreneurship programme is a promising initiative that allows us to actively help entrepreneur women achieve their potential and grow their businesses while supporting the local economy."

Dr. Raja Al Gurg, President of DBWC, said, "At Dubai Business Women Council, we strive to offer everyone a platform to discover their entrepreneurial spirit and showcase their ambition. With this significant investment from Barclays as official sponsor of the entrepreneur programme, we can create even greater opportunities for entrepreneurs to pursue their dreams. We look forward to what promises to be a successful partnership between DBWC, Barclays and Mind Cloud Academy."

The initiative has so far attracted hundreds of applications from entrepreneurs determined to show they can contribute to the future economy. The Mind Cloud Entrepreneurship Programme courses include Customer Acquisition and Retention, Legal and Governance, Mindful Leadership, Business Model, Design Thinking, Finance, Marketing and PR, Pivoting Business Model, Sales Strategies and Scaling Up Strategies.

With the official launch of the programme planned for September, each course will be certified as a Knowledge and Human Development Authority-certified Diploma, and will be delivered by a successful entrepreneur or industry expert, with a deep knowledge of the subject matter. The initiative will also create opportunities for mentorship with the facilitators and Barclays passing on their vast practical knowledge and expertise in diverse areas to individuals.