Type of innovation: Business start-up
Company Name: Southampton Solent University
Company function: Higher Education University
Function of Innovation: Supporting students to develop and start new businesses alongside their academic courses.
Who will benefit what has it achieved? There is much business start-up support for individuals not in Higher Education, or for graduates but this is the first time students can be supported to set up businesses whilst still studying.
23 students have been registered on the so-called ''SPEED'' programme to date, who have either already started their businesses or are in the process of starting.
Individuals and clients of the new businesses. Businesses include touring performing arts, events management specialising in the international community, web design using the latest interactive digital technologies, an online estate agency, yacht design services, house renovation, video marketing service, audio-visual installations, children’s books and illustration, electronics importing, and record production.
This type of business start up is the first for the South East Region.
Development and support: Approval required from Pro Vice-Chancellor, External Development to become a primary partner on the project. The project also had to obtain funding from the Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF). Process took 9 months.
Funded by the Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF).
Collaboration: There are 12 partner Universities and a number of secondary partners such as National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship, UK Science and Enterprise Centres, Enterprise Rent-A-Car.
Website address: www.solent.ac.uk
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