RAJEEB Dey was crowned O2’s Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2009 after setting up a portal which matches students and graduates in entrepreneurial work placements in start-ups and small businesses.

Rajeeb graduated from Oxford University in 2008, set up Enternships.com in 2009, and has now placed ‘enterns’ in more than 2,500 businesses in 20 different countries.

Rajeeb said that exposing the students to a fast-growing start-up environment could encourage them to look at setting up their own business. He is now supporting StartUp Britain, a private sector-led campaign to deliver support and advice for start-up companies and boost enterprise in the UK.

He shared five tips for start-up students at York St John University’s Create 11 event, which showcased the work of the university’s Faculty of Arts.

1) Networking – It’s never too early to start developing your network. Many people, especially students, are put off by the word. In business it really is not what you know, but who you know, and you need the help and support of other people.

2) Tenacity – You will have ups and downs. It won’t be a smooth path but you just have to stick at it. If you’ve got an idea and you’re committed to it and you think it can work, stick at it.

3) Ask for advice –There are lots of people out there willing to help you on your journey, so find yourself a mentor and don’t be too possessive. Some people think it’s their idea so they want to plan it all themselves, but ideas are effectively worthless. It comes down to executing that idea.

4) Be remarkable – I created a new word with Enternships. People may think it’s a typo, but at least they’re discussing it and thinking about it. You need to stand out from the crowd and get people to remark about you.

5) Boot strapping – You don’t need massive amounts of money to start up. You can work from home and you can get friends and family to support you. So don’t let money hold you off.