Business Mine on Campus
Want to be your own boss?
Need some cash to help prove your idea will work? We can help...
A grant of upto £1,000 is available to help you buy essential equipment or undertake crucial research which will help you prove that your business concept is sound.
To be eligible, you must.....
- be a University of Huddersfield student or have graduated within the last 12 months
- have a burning desire for business or self-employment
- not yet started trading
- be capable of spending the funds by March 2009
Further information on how you can apply will be available across the University during National Enterprise Week between 17 November - 23 November 2008.
Opportunity to win £5k cash and £5k in-kind PR Services
If you want to be your own boss or turn an idea into a business venture, then the Enterprise Competition can help give you a kick-start.
The Business Mine is currently seeking entrants for a Business Plan Competition. The winner will be automatically entered, on behalf of the University of Huddersfield, into a Yorkshire Regional final to be held at Venturefest York in February 2009, the 1st prize of which is £5k cash and £5k in kind services from Greens PR.
The competition is open to current students and recent graduates (within the last year) who have a new business idea or have been trading for less than 12 months as at February 2009.
Entrants will need to submit a 1,500 word Business Plan, accompanied by a 12 month projected cashflow forecast. Please contact the Business Mine for the relevant templates which will help you with your submission. Anybody wishing to speak to a Business Mentor in more detail about their Business Plan may book an appointment in Barnsley with Paul Greetham on Monday 12/01/09.
Closing Date: Tuesday 20 January 2009 (entries accepted up until 5pm)
For further information, please contact the Business Mine on:
Email: enterprise@hud.ac.uk
Tel: 01226 644 262 / 01484 473 849
Web: www.businessincubation.biz
Notes:
As the winner will be entered into the Regional Competition, entrants should keep both the day and evening of Wednesday 11 February 2009 free.
Unfortunately, due to regional guidelines, we are unable to accept entries from any business which already submitted an application to the 2008 regional competition.
Do you have a business idea?
The Business Mine is an on-campus facility providing a professional environment for students and graduates (within the past 12 months) to research and develop their ideas for business or self-employment.
How can we help you?
- Events (e.g. 2-day Easter workshop)
- Access to funding (there's more out there than you think)
- Links with the local Business community
- The opportunity to earn your place in the Business Mine accessing:
- one-to-one business mentoring
- free office facilities
- sources of research and business templates
And that's not all ...
- Support to explore your ideas for self-employment or business
- Bounce your ideas off people who've been there and done it
- People to talk to if things get complicated
- Working with a Business Mentor to give your idea or business even more chance of success
Are you eligible?
If you are a graduate or undergraduate of the University and want to work for yourself in the Yorkshire region, then this opportunity applies to you.
Contact Details
Pop in to the Barnsley Business Mine in UCB3/01b
Call Jacquie Asquith on 01226 644262 or the Huddersfield Business Mine on 01484 473765
E-mail:Enterprise@hud.ac.uk
Success Stories
Since the Business Mine opened in August 2005 a number of students have successfully passed through our doors.
Bev Elliott
'After graduating in 2006 I used the facillities that were on offer at the Business Mine at the Huddersfield Centre at Barnsley.
I have been very happy with the high level of support the unit offers and this is leading to the development of my ceramics business. I applied and won a Proof of Concept award which financed a Craft Fair in Glsgow. This experience was very helpful to me and proved to be a great learning curve. As my business has developed, my confidence has also grown. At present I am receiving support in applying for another grant for more equipment to enable my business to progress to the next stage and become more established. This will enable me to go to more trade fairs in the future.
Also, sharing the office space at the Centre enables you to be in contact with the other students, and this gives the opportunity to help, encourage and share information with each other.'
Dennis Ojera
'The Business Mine at UCB has helped me to develop my business idea from initial concept into a working business idea.
During my time at the University I was able to make use of the Centre's resources including internet access, telephone, postal services and business practice advice.
Through the Business Mine I was able to obtain the Proof of Concept grant and used this to develop my business further.
Radius Computing, which started trading in early January 2007 aims to deliver high quality, low cost IT training and solutions to businesses, individuals and community based organisations in Office applications, websites development, and databases, by working in partnership with other specialists to cater for the complete basics right through to advanced IT training and solutions.
Since it was founded, Radius Computing has attracted interest for partnership projects from Barnsley Black and Ethnic Minority Initiative (BBEMI), Just Addictive Music and Darley Arts.
More information about the activities of Radius Computing can be found on the company website www.radiuscomputing.co.uk'
FAQ
Q1: What kinds of start-up businesses do you support?
A: Providing you are a current student or recent graduate of the University of Huddersfield we can support any new start-up business.
Q2: Do I need a finished business plan to join the Business Mine?
A: No. We will give you all the help that you need.
Q3: What if I have no previous business experience?
A: It doesn’t matter – the Business Mine is here to give you that! Although you don’t need past business experience to join us, you DO need a good business idea and the commitment and passion to make it work.
