Brains behind venture gets helping hand from centre

Bhavik Savjani, 28, who took part in the Prince’s Trust’s Enterprise Programme, will use the pod at the Round Foundry Media Centre (RFMC) to launch Web Brain, a specialist search engine optimisation and Ad Words ser- vice.

Mr Savjani was born in India and lived there until the age of 10. He has lived in Leeds for the last four years.

The work pods are specifically aimed at digital or creative start-up businesses and provide a self-contained environment in which young companies can grow during the early stages of their development.

In addition, Mr Savjani will also have free use of meeting rooms, high speed internet access, visitor parking, reception and front desk services.

Mr Savjani said: “Although I had valuable experience in the digital sector, following a period of unemployment I wasn’t sure if starting up my own company was a realistic option.

“But, thanks to the invaluable support and advice from The Prince’s Trust and the fantastic opportunity to have a rent-free base at the Media Centre, which will allow me to reduce overheads at a crucial time in the launch of my company, I have every faith that I can succeed.”

Past graduates of the scheme include Bradford magician and TV star Dynamo, and Rob Law, the designer of Trunki Luggage, the ride-on hand luggage suitcase for children, which appeared on Dragons’ Den and has gone on to win more than 50 product and design awards.

Creative Space Management, management and commercial agent for the RFMC, has been working with The Prince’s Trust since the start of 2012, providing the charity free regular use of the RFMC meeting rooms for the enterprise programme.

Paul Taylor, of Creative Space Management, said: “We’re delighted to be able to offer Bhavik this opportunity, as the business address alone has a certain kudos, but he’ll also enjoy the company of many fantastic digital and new media business in the area, some of which have grown from SMEs to multi-national comp- anies.

“For example, Flashtalking, a global provider of digital advertising software, started out in one of our office pods in 2005 and now employs 32 people in Leeds and over 100 globally.”

He added: “We’ve long been champions of young and fledgling companies, and working with The Prince’s Trust allows us to offer support to young people who may not have had the advantages that many of the workers here have had, but that have the drive and entrepreneurial spirit that it takes to succeed given the opportunity.”