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UCLan tops table for student start-ups

The University of Central Lancashire has topped the tables for the third year running for student start-ups.

Latest figures from the Higher Education Business and Community Interaction Survey (HEBCIS) show that UCLan has the highest percentage of start-up businesses still trading successfully after three years than any other university in Britain.

The results of the HEBCIS, which reports on the level of knowledge transfer activity which occurs between universities, businesses and community partners, are gathered from all higher education institutions across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Over the past year alone, almost 160 businesses were set up by students and graduates of UCLan with many of these start-ups using the universities various incubation units and extensive business support services across the three campuses in Preston, Burnley and Westlakes.

Northern Lights was one of the services set up by UCLan to provide a business support programme and incubation unit to provide support to students, graduates and eligible businesses in the North West who are considering or are in the early stages of starting a business.

The service offers users access to business workspaces through a ‘rent-a-desk’ scheme, bookable boardrooms and meeting rooms, one-to-one business mentoring and group learning sessions, networking events and business competitions.

UCLan’s Business Incubation Manager Peter Rawling said: “We’re delighted that UCLan has once again been named the top University for student and graduate start-up businesses. This is a great achievement of our students and graduates; it clearly demonstrates their tenacity and commitment in starting a business or new enterprise in these tough economic times.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Francesca Dent .