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The Graduate Entrepreneurship Project funds activities within eleven Higher Education Institutions from across Yorkshire focussed on enterprise and entrepreneurship. Its support complements existing activities within each of the institutions, enabling them to provide a greater range and depth of support to students and graduates interested in starting their own businesses.

Scroll over our logo to the right to see the different ways we help graduate entrepreneurs. Elsewhere in the site there are case studies of businesses we have assisted as well as details of our partner organisations.


Boot Camp

An introduction to starting your own business, Entrepreneur Boot Camp is an interactive, four day residential course. It provides graduates with a wealth of crucial commercial skills and allows them to develop their business plans with support from specialists in marketing, finance and other key aspects of business.

Many participants have successfully founded national companies.

Funding

Potential business founders may apply for a proof of concept fund from their university. With a maximum allocation of £1000, the highly competitive fund is given to determine the commerciality of any potential business, and is accompanied by extensive support and guidance from the higher education institution to ensure that the concept is explored to its fullest potential.

Mentoring and Advice

There is a full range of support available to graduate entrepreneurs across the region. Some Higher Education Institutions provide full time business advisors, while all receive regular visits from subject specific advisors, providing graduates with the opportunity for individual appointments. There is also a discrete fund available for graduates seeking highly specialised advice.

Workshops

Workshops are offered both at individual institutions and at a regional level, and are intended to enhance commercial skills as an aid to employability as well as business start up. Regional workshops include “Investment Ready”, a natural progression for attendees of the Entrepreneur Boot Camp, a Women Entrepreneurs' workshop aiming to inspire female entrepreneurs, and workshops focusing on social enterprise.

University Showcase

University Showcase is a chance for graduate entrepreneurs to exhibit along with other new businesses in the region at Venturefest Yorkshire. They are also given the opportunity to take part in the Regional Enterprise Awards, competing for a prize of £5000 cash and £5000 of in-kind marketing expertise.

Network of Partners

The Graduate Entrepreneurship Project is a joint venture of eleven Universities and Higher Education Colleges in Yorkshire, and ensures a higher standard of support is made available to graduate entrepreneurs in the region than would otherwise be possible. It also provides students and graduates from across Yorkshire with the opportunity to collaborate and benefit from each others experiences.