Your say / UWE Bristol
‘Turning ideas into impact’
In an environment that encourages critical thinking and innovation, it’s no surprise that many students pursue entrepreneurship while at university, turning ideas conceived during their studies into a business.
At UWE Bristol, enterprise isn’t an extracurricular add on – it is central to what we do. Embedded in every course, enterprise allows students to develop critical skills like creative thinking, collaboration and problem solving.
For students who want to turn ambition into action, they need the right infrastructure around them to utilise and develop these skills and, crucially, to learn about the process of starting a business.
Beyond the curriculum, we’ve created an ecosystem through UWE Enterprise that supports our students in the process of setting up a business. From Student Ventures – our entrepreneurship centre offering business support – through to Launch Space – an incubator hub providing dedicated support for tech-disruptive founders. As a team, we give our students the tailored coaching and expertise they need at any stage of their entrepreneurial journey.
Entrepreneur development programmes, business advice clinics, dedicated mentors, pop-ups to test ideas and start-up scholarships are just some of the ways our students can access support and develop their entrepreneurial skills while they’re with us. These resources give students the tools and importantly the confidence to launch and grow their ventures.
This strong infrastructure on campus to develop our entrepreneurially-minded students is creating results. In the last academic year, UWE Enterprise engaged with 1,000 students and graduates with coaching and advice for early-stage ideas, through to supporting more established start-ups in building their venture.
We also awarded nearly £200,000 in funding, giving students and graduates a platform to grow.
One of our flagship initiatives is UWE Bristol’s Entrepreneurial Futures Award (EFA). Specifically designed to support individuals in the transition after graduating, the EFA is a three-stage pitching competition with up to £20,000 of funding available per graduate.
Allowing graduates to accelerate their start-up, winners receive tailored support from across UWE Bristol Enterprise, at what is widely considered the make-or-break period that can define their career journey.
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Funded by UWE Bristol alum Peter Fane, recipients of the award will have proven their entrepreneurial ability through at least one of UWE Bristol’s Enterprise programmes and, importantly, have a clear vision for how they’ll continue to grow and expand the business once they’ve left the university.
They’ll also have the opportunity to share their expertise with fellow entrepreneurs at the beginning of their journey, contributing to UWE Bristol’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Held at the end of November, the calibre of start-ups presenting this year impressed the panel of judges, with ten graduates successfully receiving funding.
Olly Tyler, a Leadership and Management Apprenticeship alum, secured the £20,000 top prize. He runs Shroot, a business creating eco-friendly, growable gifts such as wildflower mixes, made from responsibly sourced materials. Shroot now has over 1,100 stockists and 850 brand partners, including Harrods, Liberty London and Kew Gardens. Donating 20 per cent of profits to Wild Britain, Shroot’s vision is to become the UK’s leading eco gift house and a top 100 landowner for reviving nature.
Elsewhere in this year’s competition, Marketing alum Katie Hounsham secured £12,000 of funding through the EFA to support her business Barraquito, a coffee bar redefining Southampton’s coffee culture. Her independent speciality coffee and bar concept was created to tackle the city’s lack of welcoming spaces beyond home and work.
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It’s important that the support students receive to develop early-stage start-ups continues beyond graduation. The pipeline of entrepreneurship at UWE Bristol offers a smooth transition from Student Ventures through to Launch Space in the University Enterprise Zone.
Here they can move into the next stage of enterprise, from developing a value proposition; creating prototypes; getting support to raise funds; accessing expertise from across the university; and immersing themselves in a dynamic and supportive environment.
Enterprise is an integral part of who we are at UWE Bristol and is a central part of RISE – Research, Innovation, Skills and Enterprise – which is the unifying lens through which we tell our story. It shapes who we are, our culture and future growth.
By nurturing entrepreneurial talent and supporting students through UWE Bristol’s enterprise ecosystem, we’re shaping the next generation of innovators and business owners on campus.
This is an opinion piece from Leanne Newton, enterprise and incubation manager at UWE Bristol.
UWE Bristol are member of the Bristol24/7 Better Business network, an initiative to help businesses thrive while creating a positive impact on Bristol and the people who live here. As part of their membership, businesses can publish member news stories like this. For more information, visit my.bristol247.com/better-business
Main photo: UWE Bristol
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