探花直播

Background to engagement activity

Many students and graduates devise compelling business ideas but lack the knowledge and support to truly make them happen. 鈥淚鈥檓 a creative, so I really needed help and strategic support in moving my idea forward,鈥� explains Anne Edwards, a Master鈥檚 graduate with her own jewellery business.

Tanmay Kumar Das, a PhD student, felt the same. 鈥淚鈥檓 not a businessman, I鈥檓 a biologist, but I was looking to turn my PhD into a product.鈥� As the University for 探花直播, we are committed to transforming lives and ensuring our students and graduates have the support to achieve their dreams 鈥� from this, the STEAM Hatchery was born.

STEAM Hatchery provides students and recent graduates with a vital opportunity to learn important skills and turn their business idea into a functioning enterprise, all with the support of STEAMhouse Incubator.

The Hatchery also looks to meet听听by providing students and graduates with the chance to create their own employment opportunity and build the skills modern employers seek.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor Julian Beer says that the new programme matches the University鈥檚 demand to power regional transformation and ensure its students have the skills needed to succeed in modern business.

鈥淎s the University听for听探花直播, we are committed to providing a transformative experience for our students and graduates, one that brings together multiple disciplines and ensures that they have the attributes needed for their future careers,鈥� he says.

Richard Scutt, Head of Growth and Incubation at STEAMhouse, feels this new initiative is another example of BCU providing hands-on employability support.

鈥淩ecent startups like Gymshark and听Lounge Underwear听have shown to people that, with the right support and access to facilities, they can create a viable business that can grow. STEAM Hatchery provides them with the tools to achieve this,鈥� he says.

鈥淚f you know of a student or graduate that has the attributes and determination needed, let them know that this is a vital new programme for them.鈥澨�听

Engagement activity undertaken

Over 10 weeks, participants attend taught sessions, learning vital skills in financial planning, prototyping, pitching and creating sales strategies. They also spend a day each week accessing key advice from business experts from the world of finance, marketing, intellectual property and more.

鈥淲hen I first started the Hatchery, I had no idea about the important aspects of business,鈥� explains Sophina Miah, the Founder of a textile company.听鈥淭his programme gave me the ins and outs.鈥�

Rishika Bhalla, an MA graduate, agrees. 鈥淭he STEAM Hatchery has useful sessions where I could look at my business from a clear lens and decide what I want it to be. It pushed me to think about areas of business I normally wouldn鈥檛 think about.鈥�

The mentors were on hand to guide participants throughout the ten weeks, with one of the former - Ones Trainers founder Simon Caulton - relishing the opportunity.

"Because I鈥檝e got a live business that sells products, I鈥檓 able to talk them through a business plan and help them with it, costings, margins, the things that are really relatable to a business and how it runs and make it a viable business. Sometimes you can have a business idea but you need help to make it financially viable. For me, it鈥檚 getting that knowledge across to them. It鈥檚 been incredibly humbling."

Evidence of impact

In the Hatchery鈥檚 first year, 60 participants developed business plans, built their knowledge, and increased their networks and confidence. 鈥淚 feel I have gained so many skills and have become a more well-rounded person,鈥� says Rishika. 鈥淚鈥檇 100 per cent recommend the Hatchery to others 鈥� it gives you the confidence to believe in yourself and bring your passion to life.鈥�

It proved to be a mutually beneficial journey, with the STEAM Hatchery mentors finding their role both reflective and rewarding.

鈥淗aving a programme like the Hatchery would have made a massive difference to my career at the beginning,鈥� says听, an experienced business consultant and Hatchery mentor.

鈥淚 went into traditional graduate training and it took around six years before I was ready to take the business plunge. Here we have something that鈥檚 fun, upbeat, vibrant and really important.

"This is a brilliant opportunity for young people to trial ideas and to innovate.听I鈥檓 hoping to give a bit of real-world experience, support and some perspective, having seen and worked with many businesses.鈥�

Simon would also highly recommend the Hatchery mentoring experience to any business professionals in the area.

"From a personal aspect, if someone wants to become a mentor, it鈥檚 really satisfying and it鈥檚 enabling the next generation of entrepreneurs and startups to avoid making the same mistakes we鈥檝e made and help them understand what it takes to run a business," he explains.

"If they had some of these models when I was starting out my business, I鈥檇 have jumped at the chance. These kinds of programmes just aren鈥檛 around, at least not to this extent."

Find out more information by听reading听the news story.