University gives businesses a real boost

The survey, which was conducted by the Higher Education Business and Community Interaction Survey (HEBCIS), also revealed that Enterprise Campus is the fastest growing enterprise support facility run by a university in the North East, having supported more than 150 business start-ups to reach full trading level since its launch five years ago.

Enterprise Campus, which is run by Northumbria Commercial Enterprise, provides advice, support and tangible assistance to students and graduates wanting to start or develop their own business.

Budding entrepreneurs can use the service to benefit from assistance with compiling a business plan, free office space with use of computers, internet and telephones, as well as receiving specialist advice from business mentors.

Neuro Partners, a specialist company providing community and vocational rehabilitation and support to people with neurological conditions, learning disabilities and brain injury, is one of the many companies that Enterprise Campus has backed.

 Managing Director, Kelly Mowbray, an Occupational Psychology graduate, said: “I met with the Enterprise Campus team to discuss how to take the business forward as well as how we should undertake marketing.  They were able to give us advice and guidance on funding, premises and grants that were available to us. Due to this support, Neuro Partners has grown from strength to strength.”

Another student who benefitted from Enterprise Campus’ expertise was Fashion Marketing graduate Rosie Willett, whose individually handcrafted tiaras, headpieces, hair accessories and jewellery for the bridal market have been successfully traded in the North East since 2004 and is now ready to be launched on a national level.

Rosie said: “I would not be where I am now without the help of the Enterprise Campus team who organised meetings with advisors such as Business Link and invited me to attend workshops offering business advice on a variety of topics such as legal and marketing.”

Roger Candy, Business Partnerships Manager for Enterprise Campus, said: “Our business start-up support activity has expanded enormously over the past four years. This has been very gratifying for everyone involved. Northumbria is established as one of the UK’s leading enterprise universities.

“What makes us distinctive is our pragmatic approach to enterprise generation. Our graduates have the vocational understandings that Northumbria has given them. We support them in getting to sustainable trading with actual customers.  Above all we encourage our start-ups to locate and to stay on Tyneside and to help regenerate Tyneside’s knowledge economy.”

If you would like more information about Enterprise Campus please visit their website.