Gemma Lighting MD’s trip to Dragons’ Lair deemed a success

Amazing cup cakes, mobile phone covers, and clothing ranges can only mean thing... Craig Manuel, MD of Gemma Lighting Limited, is back at Chichester College meeting the latest Young Entrepreneurs at the Peter Jones Academy.

Craig Manuel, MD of LED lighting manufacturer
Gemma Lighting, with some of the students

Our MD Craig was invited back for a second year to give a 90-minute masterclass on what makes a good business idea and how to start up a successful business.

Entrepreneur and star of popular BBC show Dragons’ Den Peter Jones set up the academy to boost the chances of young people starting their own businesses. Chichester College is now one of over 30 sites the Academy now runs.

Craig used all of his knowledge as head of thriving LED lighting manufacturers Gemma Lighting Limited which has gone on to become a multi-million pound business.

Craig is hoping that his experience can be passed on to the next generation of successful young entrepreneurs for the second consecutive year. 18-year-old Rob Nunn from Chichester College was one of the students present for Craig’s visit last year and went on to be awarded ‘National Entrepreneur of the Year’ by Peter Jones himself back in July (Pictured below).

Craig said of this year’s visit: “It was a pleasure to be invited back to Chichester College again and meet the Peter Jones students - some first rate ideas from this year’s students, which could potentially turn into profitable businesses.

Peter Jones presents Rob Nunn with his award

“What’s more, this year’s group contains a number of students with great personalities and business acumen, which will hopefully help them succeed in gaining finance from private investors.

“I wish all the students the best of luck and look forward to hearing their final pitches next year,” Craig said.

The Academy, formerly known as the National Enterprise Academy, was delighted to welcome Craig back for a second year, and business enterprise manager at the academy Tara Lovejoy said Craig’s masterclass had gone down well with the students.

Tara commented: “The group really enjoyed Craig’s presentation. Craig was very inspiring, especially as he has achieved so much with Gemma Lighting LTD.

“Craig provided the students with a really useful insight into company formation and how to overcome some of the obstacles they likely to face.”

Leave your messages to Craig in the comments box below.

Gemma Lighting MD invited to give lecture in Dragons’ Lair

Craig Manuel, managing director at Gemma Lighting Limited, has been invited for the second year running to give a lecture to students at the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy at Chichester College this Wednesday.

Peter Jones, entrepreneur and star of popular BBC show Dragons’ Den, set up the academy in 2009 to boost the chances of young people starting their own businesses, and Chichester is just one of over 30 sites the Academy now runs.

Craig will be giving a lecture on how to set up a successful company, using all his experience as head of successful LED lighting specialists Gemma Lighting Limited, based in Portsmouth.

Gemma Lighting, founded in 2009, has gone on to become a multi-million pound business, and Craig is hoping that his experience can be passed on to the next generation of successful entrepreneurs for the second consecutive year.

Peter Jones presents Rob with the keys to his new Alfa Romeo

One such youngster is 18-year-old Rob Nunn from Chichester College, who was one of the students present for Craig’s visit last year and went on to be awarded a top honour by the Dragon himself back in July.

Craig said: “It was a pleasure to offer advice to Rob Nunn and the 2012 students at Chichester College and I was delighted when I heard that Dragons’ Den entrepreneur Peter Jones CBE had presented Rob Nunn with the highest accolade ‘National Entrepreneur of the Year’.

“I am really looking forward to meeting the candidates for 2013 this week and hope the group contains another winner!”

The Academy, formerly known as the National Enterprise Academy, was delighted to welcome Craig back for a second year, and business enterprise manager at the academy Tara Lovejoy said: “The students last year really enjoyed Craig Manuel’s session and found it really useful.”

Gemma Lighting provides LED solutions for car parks, roads, warehouses, cold stores and more, reducing carbon emissions and saving money on energy and maintenance costs.

For more information visit www.gemmalighting.com.

Leave your messages to Craig in the comments box below.