BUSINESS BOOTCAMP SUPPORTS GRADUATES TO OVERCOME COVID HURDLES
Students and recent graduates from Glasgow University are on course to launch and grow their own businesses after taking part in the first inter-university start-up bootcamp.
The initiative, run by Dundee-based entrepreneurial support service, UNpreneur, attracted more than 170 attendees from eight universities across the UK.
The idea was conceived in response to the challenging job market resulting from the Coronavirus pandemic. It allowed new graduates to explore the alternative career path of self-employment.
Following the success of the pilot project, UNpreneur are already planning an expansion of the bootcamp for 2022, to include more universities and in person delivery.
The bootcamp was fully funded by all eight partner universities, and so was free for the students and graduates who took part.
Participants attended six weekly workshops which covered a range of themes:
- Develop the right mindset to run a business
- Finding customers
- Market products and services
- Setting goals through increased self-awareness
- Build and develop a team
- Making connections to gain advice and investment
Kallum Russell, Chief UNpreneurship Officer at UNpreneur, co-founded the Dundee based business in 2017 to provide the entrepreneurial support he wished he’d received when he launched his own businesses after graduation.
He said: “The damage that the coronavirus restrictions have done to our economy means that it’s harder than ever for graduates to find employment.
“We know from previous experience that bringing together participants from a range of backgrounds and regions can help support and accelerate their business journey through shared learnings and collaboration.
“We need young companies with innovative ideas, who will create the jobs and wealth we need to rebuild our economy.
“We want to share the learnings we’ve built up over several years of running business incubators and enterprise training in universities, to help budding business owners learn the skills they need.
“These tricks of the trade can turn a good idea into a viable and thriving company.” The eight UK institutions are: University of Glasgow, Sheffield Hallam University, Birmingham City University, Queen’s University Belfast, Ulster University, University of Liverpool, University of South Wales, and University of Sunderland.
