Member Article

Manchester Metropolitan University launches fund for small businesses

Manchester Metropolitan University has launched a small business fund to open up access to university expertise. The initiative, which is provided via the Social Enterprise Investment Fund, aims to encourage small and medium-sized businesses to work with Manchester Met on specific business projects.

The university will contribute £5,000 towards projects of a minimum value of £10,000, with businesses match funding the remaining £5,000. Manchester Met aims to support small and medium sized businesses to become more robust and profitable by offering expertise from across the university. Projects could focus on aims such as:

• Providing expert consultancy services
• Engaging in joint-venture initiatives
• Undertaking bespoke research on markets, products and services
• Joint development of specific products, processes or services

The aim of the fund is to establish long-standing relationships between small businesses and the university that will continue beyond the project period. The businesses must be SMEs, employing no more than 250 people, and must fulfil certain eligibility criteria. They must be based in the UK, have not had a financial relationship with Manchester Met before and demonstrate the potential for a continuing relationship with the university. Projects must be delivered before 31 July 2016.

For further information on the fund, and a discussion on potential projects, please contact Ian Gibbs, Centre for Enterprise, on ian.gibbs@mmu.ac.uk or 0161 247 3610.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Manchester Metropolitan University Centre for Enterprise .