Hub gives budding tycoons chance to shine

AROUND 100 students and graduates could get the chance to turn their ideas into businesses over the next five years, as part of a scheme that aims to encourage a new generation of Yorkshire entrepreneurs.
Yorkshire businessman Peter Wilkinson speaking at the launch of the InTechnology Enterprise Incubator at the University of Leeds  Picture:  Adam RobinsonYorkshire businessman Peter Wilkinson speaking at the launch of the InTechnology Enterprise Incubator at the University of Leeds  Picture:  Adam Robinson
Yorkshire businessman Peter Wilkinson speaking at the launch of the InTechnology Enterprise Incubator at the University of Leeds Picture: Adam Robinson

A wide range of businesses, including a sustainable childrenswear brand and a dog treats business, have established a base in a new incubator at the University of Leeds.

Harrogate-based technology group InTechnology has helped to fund part of the university’s new enterprise incubator, which provides practical support and financial help to new graduates looking to set up a business.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The InTechnology Enterprise Incubator provides office space on the university campus and access to specialist business advice. InTechnology is also providing four enterprise scholarships a year for the next five years, giving students and postgraduates the chance to develop their business ideas alongside their studies. Altogether, the university hopes that 100 fledgling entrepreneurs will use the incubator by 2020.

The university already has a long track record of supporting student entrepreneurs, including enterprise scholarships and the student business start-up service SPARK. These schemes are only available to current students, but the InTechnology Enterprise Incubator plans to build on this, by giving support to student businesses beyond their graduation. Graduates are given designated office space to develop their start-ups and draw on the advice of experts in a range of business disciplines.

Peter Wilkinson, the chief executive of InTechnology, said: “I know how tough it is for start-up businesses. We want to give these start-ups every chance of success as

they will contribute to the future prosperity of Leeds, providing sustainable economic growth and job creation. When I visited the university I saw more innovation in two hours than I’d seen anywhere else in the past two years. By giving these young entrepreneurs the support they need, we’ll be able to help them turn their ideas into a reality. Programmes like this have the potential to turn Leeds, Yorkshire, and the whole of the North, into the economic hub it should be.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

One of the first entrepreneurs to use the incubator is Sophie Tregellis, whose hobby of making dog treats with her mother at home has now developed into a thriving business called Top Collar, with customers across the UK.

Speaking at the official launch of the hub in the university’s Maurice Keyworth Building, Mr Wilkinson told the audience: “The creation of an idea and making it a reality; that’s the buzz of being an entrepreneur. But it is very tough, the number one rule for any entrepreneur, in my opinion, is that sales are the only thing that are important. Sales are your oxygen, and if you ain’t got no oxygen, you suffocate and die. The number one lesson in life is sell, sell and sell.”

He said it was a great shame that the hub project isn’t being replicated 20, 30 or 40 times over throughout the North of England.

Speaking afterwards, Mr Wilkinson told The Yorkshire Post: “Entrepreneurs are the future. You’ve got some kids here with some tremendous ideas, and why would a kid with a tremendous idea actually start a business? It’s very complex. You’ve got to put a business plan together and try and find funding. By the time they’ve done all that, they have virtually given up - they’ve lost heart and hope. So this is offering a really quick start.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“It will help people get that business idea together and have a base. Once you’ve got a base, you’ve got much more idea about your business. Facebook and Google started like this, with kids at university.”

Kairen Skelley, business start-up manager at the University of Leeds, added: “The Enterprise Incubator is a wonderful asset.”

InTechnology has made an initial commitment of £500,000 to support the project, and Mr Wilkinson and other members of the InTechnology team are also providing mentoring.

The young entrepreneurs and businesses supported in the InTechnology Enterprise Incubator include Baby Nini, which was founded by Catherine Watterus; an ethical, sustainable childrenswear brand aimed at children up to five years old.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Hannah-Rebecca Joy Guscoth, who is studying for a masters in disability studies and global development, has established Considering Disability, an entry-level academic journal promoting disability awareness. The journal is primarily aimed at students and graduates, who can develop their skills and share knowledge about experiences of disability around the world.

Another member of the incubator, Robbie Bates, has founded Inspire Africa, an organisation that aims to provide international volunteering opportunities in Kenya.