Calling aspiring entrepreneurs - sign up to SparkTank now

Newcastle Business School and Gateshead Council are urging recent graduates interested in signing up for a free entrepreneurial business course to apply now before the September 15 cut-off date.

The 10-week course, called Spark Tank, starts on 21 September and is sponsored by Newcastle School and Gateshead Council. Research shows that up to 75% of Britons would like to set up their own business, but most never get around to it. New to the North East, Spark Tank is driven by the belief that the best time to succeed is straight after graduation, when innovators can afford to take risks and don’t have too many responsibilities. It has been designed to support, develop and test business ideas.

And as well as being free, Gateshead Council will provide a grant of £1,000 for the first seven successful applicants, toward living costs while on the course.

Jane Turner, Associate Dean Business Engagement Newcastle Business School, said: “Northumbria already has one of the best records among UK universities for supporting and nurturing business start-ups, and for jobs created by its graduate entrepreneurs. Sponsoring Spark Tank demonstrates our ongoing commitment to this, and to encouraging innovation.”

Michael Fowle, Enterprise Fellow at Newcastle Business School, added: “This is an intense accelerator programme compressed into 10 weeks, where delegates will find out a great deal about themselves and their business ideas. They will have access to mentors who are experienced entrepreneurs, and get specialist input from experts in marketing, legal, product development, raising finance and much more. Delegates will also gain valuable, and I suspect, life-long support from each other as they share the learning experience.

For more information about the programme please e:mail: info@sparktank.biz or call Peter Pease, the programme manager on 0191 603 1566

You can also visit (https://www.facebook.com/sparktankaccelerator?fref=ts) and twitter @SparkTankNBS

 For more information on Northumbria University visit www.northumbria.ac.uk