Posted by rhulcareers on February 28, 2011 under News | 
Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs is an exciting new cross-border business exchange programme aimed at supporting new or would-be entrepreneurs to acquire the relevant skills for managing a small to medium-sized enterprise.
So if you are looking for fresh perspectives and international co-operation opportunities, look no further!
Financed by the European Commission, this exchange programme puts innovative ideas into practice. Whether you are a new or highly experienced entrepreneur, the programme will provide you with the support to develop your business even further.
Here are just some of the things that Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs can offer you:
- The exchange of knowledge and experience
- Better business networking possibilities across Europe
- New commercial relations for European businesses are guaranteed
- As well as the prospect of going abroad with your business!
Check out the website for further details.
Posted by John King on February 23, 2011 under Slides |
Next Startup Wednesday will the last of the series, and will cover practical hints and tips about setting up – including office, IT and telecoms – and we will review the top tips from the entire series! 2pm-4pm 23rd March 2011 in Arts Building S21.
Posted by rhulcareers on February 22, 2011 under News |
We all know that the next year is going to make or break many small enterprises, so what determines whether a business ends the year in profit or sinks into debt?
In a special series across 2011, BBC Radio 4′s Woman’s Hour will be following the challenging journeys that three women face as their determination and drive to expand their companies faces the looming economic crisis.
The three businesses came about in very different ways and have to tackle a range of problems if they are to come out on top over the next twelve months.
Follow the trials and tribulations of these Entrepreneurs here
Posted by John King on February 21, 2011 under Royal Holloway Businesses |
Two successful alumni entrepreneurs – in the fields of Drama and Finance – will speak at this year’s Creative Careers Forum in the Windsor Auditorium on 2 March from 6 pm onwards.
Fran Miller graduated in 2009 and co-founded non zero one, a theatre company in which she acts as Artist and Producer, producing interactive work and working closely with touring venues. Last year non zero one performed their début piece ‘Would Like to Meet’ at the Barbican, and this year they are performing at Latitude Festival as well as other venues across the UK.
Last year’s forum proved extremely popular so, if you plan to attend, you must book a place in advance – register @ www.rhul.ac.uk/careers/events.
Posted by John King on February 16, 2011 under News, Royal Holloway Businesses |
Royal Holloway students have continued their run of entrepreneurial competition wins by taking top prizes in the WestFocus Bright Ideas competitions and receiving UnLtd grants totalling £5,750.
Luka Blackman-Gibbs, Royal Holloway Entrepreneurs’ President 2010-11 won a £1,000 Bright Ideas grant and £3,500 from UnLtd for Study Buddy, her pioneering online skills exchange. Luka said, “Winning these awards is a vote of confidence for Study Buddy. Being a member of Study Buddy can increase your skills base, your employability and hopefully your grades. The scheme is flexible around your timetable, you can have unlimited numbers of buddies, or just exchange quick tips in the students forums.”
Luka has received more than £7,500 in funding since starting the project from four different sources.
Louis Mech, winner of the Royal Holloway Entrepreneurs’ Dragons’ Den competition, received a £1,000 top prize in the Bright Futures competition. His VEO social enterprise gives a pair of adjustable spectacles to a person in need for every pair of sunglasses you purchase. Louis said, “VEO promises to never forget why a group of friends started this company. We were young, ambitious and out to change the world. We still are.”
Both Louis and Luka also won support and mentoring through the Startup Smart competition.
If you are thinking of starting a business and need some funding, you can get advice on entering competitions and a list of competitions you can enter.
Posted by John King on February 14, 2011 under Competitions |
If you’re aged 16-30 and in your first 12 months of trading, you can still apply online for one of up to 6 x monthly £1,000 Shell LiveWIRE Grand Ideas Awards.
The top three Shell LiveWIRE Grand Ideas Award winners each month (as per the judges’ scores) will automatically be put through to our ‘Hot 40’ shortlist for the annual £10,000 Shell LiveWIRE Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award final taking place in November.
You can also watch video interviews with entrepreneurs such as designer Wayne Hemingway (Founder of Red or Dead) on the Shell LiveWIRE website.
For pre-advice information, you can book a Business Clinic appointment at Royal Holloway.
Posted by John King on February 7, 2011 under Podcasts |
Solvej Biddle studied Economics & Politics at Royal Holloway between 1990-93 and subsequently founded Biddle Innovations, a company which has produced a range of products that have solved the problems she faced as a mother.
She took part in the last series of BBC TV’s Dragons’ Den and was successful in gaining £80,000 investment from Peter Jones and Deborah Meaden for a 22.5% equity stake in her idea, the ‘TrayKit’.
Solvej has lived and worked in the UK, USA, Europe and Africa. She is a lawyer and spent 12 years working in London until she gave up her job to develop the Content & Calm range of sleep canopies.
This podcast is from the Royal Holloway Entrepreneurs Get Inspired! event on 3rd February 2011.
Listen to more of our popular podcasts by subscribing to our iTunes feed.
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Posted by John King on under Competitions |
Open to all Royal Holloway students and staff
Do you want to unlock the potential of an entrepreneurial idea? Do you have an idea for a sustainable, scalable commercial or social enterprise that needs an injection of cash to show that it could work?
If you think that you can develop an idea into a sustainable commercial or social enterprise, you can apply for a grant of up to £2,000. Teams consisting of at least one member of staff and one student are invited to apply for project funding. You are also encouraged to invite alumni to join your team.
The purpose of the scheme is to fund out-of-pocket expenses in developing an entrepreneurial idea with potential to become a sustainable, scalable commercial or social enterprise and which may prove sufficiently robust to attract follow-on WestFocus/PARK seed funding of up to £50,000.
The deadline for 2010-11 grant applications is 10am Monday 7th March 2011.
Download the Minigrant guidelines and application form in Word format
Download the Minigrant guidelines and application form in PDF format
Email minigrants@rhul.ac.uk for more information.
Mini-grant clinics
If you would like some early feedback on your idea, you can meet with the Entrepreneurship Careers Adviser, John King. A drop-in service operates 10:00 to 11:00 every Tuesday in the Careers Service.
Posted by John King on under Podcasts |
Nick Wheeler founded Charles Tyrwhitt Shirts in 1986, while studying geography at Bristol University. The company has grown rapidly in the UK, the USA and Germany with sales of £50m last year.
In 2006, David Hathiramani met up with old school friend Warren and realised that by combining their love of suits, passion for business, and complementary skills sets, they could reinvent the way that people think about ordering a suit. Using unique web technology, A Suit That Fits gives customers the flexibility to design and completely customise their suit.
This podcast is from the first Thomas Holloway Lecture on 27th January 2011. It is chaired by Rachel Doern, Programme Convenor for the MSc Entrepreneurship at Royal Holloway, University of London. Rachel speaks first, followed by David.
Listen to more of our popular podcasts by subscribing to our iTunes feed.
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Posted by John King on under Competitions |
The Technology Strategy Board is investing £200,000 in up to 20 consumer trials of new digital products and services across creative market sectors including Music, TV/Film and Publishing – and would like to offer you the chance to participate.
You’ll need to submit a video and simple business case by 11 March 2011. 40 applications will be selected to go through to a final face-to-face panel session at the end of March. Your entry will be reviewed by the Technology Strategy Board with the help of leading digital content industry figures. If you’re successful, you will receive up to £10,000 in support of a six month consumer trial on the new IC tomorrow digital test bed.
Register your interest and apply to take part by visiting www.tinyurl.com/ict-contest.
