s4r Business Guides on how to Beat the Recession

Prizes worth over £22,500 have been awarded to the winners of the best business, social enterprise and creative ideas in the University of the West of England's theBizIdea competition.

The best ideas in each category won £5,000 and a rent-free space, worth around £2,500, in the UWE Ventures business incubator, and various start-up packages to boost the winners' skills and business. More...

Quickmark® is a market assessment service that has been run by the University of the West of England for five years and has helped over forty clients. QuickMark is designed to identify the broad potential market for new product areas, processes or services. The possibilities may relate to innovation, to new developments for an existing product, or to a new business stream for an existing business. More...

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) is one of the UK's leading business support programmes, helping organisations to improve their competitiveness and productivity through accessing knowledge, technology and skills that reside within Universities.

Each Partnership employs one or more high-calibre Associates (recently qualified graduates) on a project lasting up to 3 years. KTP is funded by the Technology Strategy Board with 17 other funding organisations. Grants are available for up to 67% of project costs. More...

Starting a business is challenging: a test of commitment, ability and resources. Innovative start-ups often need significant time and resources to develop their product or service and to bring it to market. As a business incubator, UWE Ventures provides a nurturing, instructive and supportive environment for entrepreneurs during the critical early stages of starting their new business.  We aim to help businesses reduce the cost and risk of start-up and shorten the time to reach a sustainable position.

In 2009, UWE Ventures in partnership with solutions4recession provided 10 incubation spaces to help individuals and businesses impacted by recession. We offer a further 20 places for 2010 and look forward to meeting you and hearing more about your business concept.

Top 5 reasons to join UWE Ventures, from our Ventures clients…

1. The Ventures community

The community includes a diverse range of innovative start-up and young businesses including: social enterprises, creative makers, digital media, IT, training and consultancy. The rich mix of disciplines encourages collaboration and sharing of networks and experience. Mentors, advisers and supporters work closely with the businesses, expertly facilitated by the UWE Ventures team.  The team are committed and resourceful problem solvers and actively network within UWE and the regional business community to extend the incubation offer.

2. Our business development program

Regular and ‘just in time’ business advice sessions supplement twice yearly business reviews. Each review provides opportunity to present your business to a panel of experts drawn from the local business community and to discuss progress against plan and issues arising. These sessions help to grow your start-up business’ support network and identify potential mentors.

3. Professional standard accommodation from £75 pcm

The newly refurbished accommodation includes: fully-furnished, air conditioned offices and meeting rooms; use of printing/photocopying/faxing/AV equipment; broadband/wireless connection and VoIP phones; lockable storage; fully equipped kitchen/lounge area;  reception; showers.

Prices start at £75 plus VAT for virtual and £210 for full residential incubation.

For more information call Mariama on 0117 32 81491 or email: ventures@uwe.ac.uk

4. Energising Harbourside location  in the heart of Bristol.

UWE Ventures shares Bush House (72 Princes Street) with the Arnolfini, Sustrans, The Hub, The Third Floor, Forum for the Future and others. Bristol’s commercial district, the Old City and Harbourside are all within easy reach . There is relatively cheap and convenient parking for visitors across Princes Street  in the Mud Dock  and Temple Meads railway station is a short walk along the River Avon.

Definition of Business Incubation:

Business incubation provides a nurturing, instructive and supportive environment for entrepreneurs during the critical stages of starting up a new business. The goal of incubators is to increase the chance that a start-up will succeed, and shorten the time and reduce the cost of establishing and growing its business. If successful, business incubators can help to nurture the companies that will form the true creators of a region’s or nation’s future wealth and employment. (as defined by UKBI)

UWE Ventures is a 65 space Business Incubation centre located within Bush House, on Bristol's Harbourside. The centre was launched at the end of February 2009, to accommodate and support pre start and start-up businesses (including UWE students, staff and alumni). The space is fully equipped, with access to meeting space and mentoring from business experts, to help individuals and young businesses develop their ideas. 

UWE Ventures business incubation provides an inclusive, flexible and cost effective package of space, facilities, support and resources, freeing you to work on building your business:

• Equipped & managed office space: includes desk, phone, broadband connection & line rental. Shared services such as heating, lighting, cleaning, business rates and meeting rooms.
• Tailored business support: from the Enterprise team and their network with regular reviews, access to mentors, specialists, partner services and our strong links with university expertise. There are also opportunities to take part in our events, including workshops, seminars, and one-to-one surgeries, which cover all aspects of running a business.
• A dynamic business community: you join a creative and supportive professional environment. Here you can network with other like-minded businesses and explore our extended network in the local and regional business community.

Residential incubation

This option incorporates a full-time dedicated space within UWE Ventures Bristol (available 24 hours a day) and access to our core support services. It is likely to appeal to you if you have made a decision to commit significant time to developing your business idea or existing early-stage enterprise.

Virtual incubation

A 'virtual' service (where full-time accommodation in UWE Ventures is not required) is available to support individuals who are in the early stages of developing their enterprises. This option is likely to appeal to you if you have not yet developed your business idea or are at an early stage of setting-up or trading. It may also appeal if you are unable to make a full-time commitment to your business (perhaps due to being in employment).

Despite not being resident at UWE Ventures, virtual incubatees can still take advantage of our core services including: business support; events and workshops; access to a dynamic business community.