On 22 November the Business Start-Up Journey will launch for the new academic year welcoming students from the School of Economics, the School of Computing and Kent Business School.
What is the Business Start-Up Journey?
Over 12 weeks’ of interactive learning, the Journey provides a step-by-step guide to starting your own business, giving you the knowledge you need to be a successful entrepreneur. For those who don’t want to be your own boss, the Journey will improve your employability by facilitating the skills and mindsets which entrepreneurs use to be successful.
The Business Start-Up Journey in Six Steps:
- Be inspired: Meet successful business people and fellow student entrepreneurs. Take part in the Ideas Hack to discover and develop your own business idea or find new partners to work with.
- Explore and learn: Work with business experts to learn about key business start-up areas, including market research, product launch, social media and intellectual property.
- Get investor-ready: Develop your business plan with one-to-one advice from our Entrepreneur in Residence and Tech Entrepreneur in Residence.
- Refine your strategy: Get one-to-one support and advice from our pool of successful entrepreneur mentors.
- Showcase your idea: Pitch your business to the experts, make valuable new connections and get the chance to win cash prizes to set up your business.
- Be your own boss: You’re in business! Use your newfound skills to get a first foot on the career ladder.
Why should you take part?
What employer wouldn’t want an employee who is accustomed to evaluating situations to see the risks, opportunities and innovative solutions? Who wouldn’t want to improve their presentation, communication, teamwork and leadership skills? Whether you want to run your own business, or want something unique to put on your CV, the Business Start-Up Journey has something for everyone.
The Business Start-Up Journey has an impressive group of mentors with huge experience across all sectors of business – from manufacturing and retail, to
marketing and technology. We will match you to the best person to help advise you and progress your business.
Jaye Graham is a final year Economics and Sociology student. She won top prize in the 2017 Business Start-Up Journey’s pitching challenge and was awarded a £1,000 investment for her business, Pawfect Match. The app utilises a Tinder style interface to match homeless cats and dogs with potential owners. Jaye is now developing the app and has plans to launch in the south east of England this year.
‘I would definitely recommend joining the programme if you’re interested in owning your own business one day because, like me, it could be the thing that gets you started!’
The majority of the Business Start-Up Journey will be delivered on Wednesday afternoons, making it easy to fit around your studies. Events are split equally between the Medway and Canterbury campuses and it’s absolutely free to take part.
Join us for our inspirational launch
The first step is to find out more at our launch:
The Business Start-Up Journey Launch
14.15 – 16.30
Wednesday 22 November 2017
Grimond Lecture Theatre 1
Canterbury Campus
At the launch we will welcome one of Britain’s top tech entrepreneurs, Tom Ilube to talk about his journey as an entrepreneur. Tom served as Chief Information Officer of Egg plc., the pioneering FTSE 250 UK internet bank. His career has included working for Goldman Sachs, PwC, Cap Gemini and the London Stock Exchange. He has since founded companies working in identity protection and space cyber security. Tom will talk about his journey as an entrepreneur and then there will be an opportunity to ask him questions.
At the launch you will also meet the people who will be guiding you through the Business Start-Up Journey and hear from students who have already successfully completed the programme. Afterwards there will be the chance to network and enjoy refreshments.
Sign-Up for the Business Start-Up Journey today.
Did you enjoy this blog? Hear more from our Tech Entrepreneur in Residence, Jason Marshall.