wendy parvin

Wendy Parvin - WIN Consultant

Wendy joined the University of Durham in 1998 to champion the area of new venture creation with a specific focus on graduate entrepreneurship. In the role of programme director she devised and delivered the GLEAM programme (Graduate Learning of Entrepreneurship Accelerated through Mentoring). GLEAM is now an established business start up model for graduates regionally, who are mentored by SME owner/managers and initiated into the North East business community.

Prior to joining DBS Wendy was a partner in the new venture Pro-Act from 1991 – 1995. Pro-Act was set up to provide training for front line professionals working in the public and voluntary sectors in dealing with domestic violence.  Its aim was to enable those professionals to understand the issues they were facing, and to identify positive solutions appropriate to their roles. Key customers are police, probation, housing and legal services nationally.

Wendy brings with her imaginative ways of working with groups to facilitate personal and professional change. Intrinsic to her working practice, is the aspiration that enterprise support is designed and delivered to enable people to have access to the information, space and services they need in order to make practical choices and gain greater control over their lives.  Underpinning her work is the intention to empower people, to be proactive in co-creating enterprising opportunities.

September 2006  -  Became self employed and established Conversations With Purpose a consultancy venture, delivering enterprise development with a focus on mentoring to develop social capital within communities of practice.

Areas of expertise

Women's enterprise development

Mentoring

New venture creation – small business development

Enterprise within the creative industries

Third Sector – social enterprise development

Contracts to date – 2006 ongoing

Women into the Network, Mentoring Programme Director as an associate of Durham Business School

Enterprise Module leader MSC Computer Science Dept – Durham University

MBA Distance learning – guest lecturer in New Venture Creation  – Durham University

Mentoring Practice – a mentor for Northern Cultural Skills Partnership and Durham Young Peoples Centre

Entrepreneurship Curriculum Development  – Newcastle University

Dione mentoring and networking project – Newcastle City Council – European transnational partnership  - focus on women and technology SMEs. Coordination of Research and evaluation. 

People Into Enterprise – Associate  - delivering animation events in the creative sector in FE colleges

The Case for Women’s Enterprise 2005 to 2007  – trainer for Esteem Ltd, Scotland. Delivered DTI product to the across the ONE and LDA regions. Building capacity in the business support community.

2007 and ongoing

Creative GLEAM – based with in creative cluster of Newcastle (partnership with DBS, ONE, NCC and Ouseburn Trust)

MEDA ETE – GLEAM EU best practice transfer into Egypt and Lebanon

Northumberland Women’ Mentoring Partnership Programme – lead consultant and facilitator  - Funded Northumberland Strategic Partnership

Yorkshire Culture: Modelling Sustainability in the Cultural sector – as an associate of Pelican Ltd – consultant and group facilitation delivered across Yorkshire region

Email Wendy on wparvin@blueyonder.co.uk  

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