Member Article

University of Leeds entrepreneurs of tomorrow enter Business Bootcamp

Twenty-four entrepreneurial students at the University of Leeds have been put through their paces at the annual business Bootcamp run by the University’s business start-up service, Spark.

The Bootcamp’s two-day residential programme, held at Weetwood Hall on 16 and 17 December and delivered by sector experts, is designed to deliver an intensive grounding in finance, law, intellectual property, business planning and public relations to boost the students’ chances of success in their fledgling business ventures.

This year there were 15 Scholars – the largest number ever - representing ten fledgling businesses, including a micro-brewery, an advice and exposure platform for young musicians, and a graphic design studio.

The Scholars receive significant backing from University alumni including a package of business support and funding to help with business costs.

The Scholars were joined in Bootcamp by three undergraduate students, each of whom have been awarded Proof of Concept funding by Spark to support the very early stage development of their business ideas.

Also at Bootcamp were six graduates studying for Master’s degrees in Enterprise.

Kairen Skelley, head of Business Start-up at Spark, said: “Year on year the judging panel feeds back how they’ve been blown away by the standard of the applications for these Scholarships and it gets harder each year to make our selection.

“We’re proud to be able to match this standard with a comprehensive package of support to help these young businesses on their way to success.”

Asad Ali, partner at Blacks Solicitors LLP in Leeds, specialises in corporate, media and commercial matters for SMEs and is part of Spark’s network of professional business supporters. Says Asad: “Having now worked with the Spark programme, its cohort and staff for several years now, I am always impressed by the sheer level of innovation and professionalism in their business propositions.

“The only thing I find more surprising is the breath-taking enthusiasm, dynamism and intelligence of the entrepreneurs themselves.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Mark Lane .