Around 400 students from across the University are set to benefit from a Kent Business School (KBS) initiative designed to inspire students to start their own businesses.
Titled the ‘Business Start-Up Journey’, the seven-month programme has been designed by KBS with input by successful entrepreneurs. The programme links up aspiring student entrepreneurs to high profile business mentors.
It includes sessions from learning about brand and finance to the importance of search engine optimisation. The programme concludes with selected aspiring entrepreneurs taking part in a pitching day where students can present their ideas to business experts.
At the end of the programme, cash awards are available for the successful students and the opportunity to attend the European Innovation Academy, Europe’s largest tech start-up festival in Turin or Lisbon.
The Business Start-Up Journey is running for the first time this year after a successful pilot programme last year.
It is part of a wider, philanthropically funded project, ASPIRE (Accelerator Space for Innovation and Responsible Enterprise) which also includes funding for new academic chairs and entrepreneur-in-residence. ASPIRE will be researching innovative and entrepreneurial practice that will inform the acceleration of start-ups.