Universities in joint bid to fund entrepreneurs

The Graduate Entrepreneurship project is run by the nine universities and university college in the region with the support of European funding which runs out next year.

A bid has now been submitted for European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) cash to be able to run the scheme beyond 2013.

The programme offers support to students and graduates from every university in Yorkshire and is co-ordinated by Huddersfield University.

Young people can receive start up grants of up to £2,500 and smaller proof-of-concept funding which allows people to develop their ideas.

Since September last year it has helped 944 business start-ups and carried out more than 1,000 appointments with start-up businesses or students and graduates considering launching their own enterprise.

The Graduate Entrepreneurship project received £1.3m from the ERDF which is match-funded by the universities to create a £2.6m fund for two academic years.

It also runs an annual intensive graduate entrepreneurship boot camp in which 30 students and graduates attend a four-day residential scheme held at the Northern College in Stainborough, Barnsley.

The Graduate Entrepreneurship project has been run across 10 higher education providers in Yorkshire since 2007 when it received funding from the now defunct regional development agency Yorkshire Forward.

The boot camp event has been running annually for six years and is taking place this week.

The Graduate Entrepreneurship project manager, Louise Bermingham, said: “Boot camp provides the region’s entrepreneurial students and graduates with an inspirational environment in which to explore and develop their business ideas.

“They leave camp armed with a wealth of knowledge to start them on their journey into business.”

Miss Bermingham believes that in the current economic climate students and graduates are more willing to consider going it alone in business.

She said: “There are no longer any safe options or the idea of a job for life any more so I think more young people are looking at becoming entrepreneurs.”

Sarah Allison was among those who attended last year’s boot camp and has since launched her own social media training and consultancy company.

The Leeds University graduate said: “Last year’s graduate entrepreneur’s boot camp provided a brilliant opportunity to gain invaluable knowledge and insight into setting up and running a business.

“Boot Camp gave me the conviction and passion to pursue my business idea. The whole experience was both inspiring and invaluable.”

Chris Gowan, a Sheffield Hallam University graduate who attended last year has returned to the event this week to share his experience of setting up a business on your own.

He has gone on to launch Let’s Go Mexicana, a mobile food supplier for outdoor events.

This year’s group of graduate entrepreneurs includes Emily Cant, who is setting up her own business.

The 23-year-old from Beverley said: “I’ve been developing my business idea – Badgers of Bohemia – for a while.

“Boot camp will provide the final step for making my idea a reality.”

Emily’s idea is to turn her own paintings into wallpaper and soft furnishings.

She added: “It is great to be able to meet so many entrepreneurs who are all looking to start up on their own. I don’t think there are many people out there doing it – especially young people.

“The lecturers’ classes have all been really useful so far and it is very intensive. When they call it a boot camp they really mean it.”

Another graduate entrepreneur attending the event this week is Patricia Dieng.

The Sheffield Hallam University graduate’s business idea is TacMap – tactile maps of buildings and city centres for the visually impaired.

She works alongside the Sheffield Royal Society for the Blind and has developed her product in conjunction with the Art and Design Research Centre at Sheffield Hallam.

The idea is for maps to enables users to access information about how a building is laid out so they can locate entrances, exits, fire exits, receptions, toilets, dining areas and cash machines.

Sheffield Hallam graduate Mike Moore is also attending the camp. He is looking to make eco-friendly products for people attending music festivals.