START UP - business hub programme

The programme runs for 10 weeks and includes a progression route into specific industry Business Hub groups. Students will have access to an external business mentor from the Chamber of Commerce and work shadowing opportunities.

Every week an expert guest speaker will be joining the groups to walk them through every step they need to go through to start up their own business. Students will be supported on their journey with business ideas generation, planning, sales and marketing strategies, networking, pitching their idea for investment and much more.

Topics covered on the programme:

• Week 1: Getting to Know Yourself as an Entrepreneur

• Week 2: Turning Your Passion, Course or Hobby into Money

• Week 3: Is your idea viable?

• Week 4: The Lowdown on Legislation

• Week 5: Business Finance

• Week 6: Building a Brand Persona

• Week 7: Marketing Your Business and Selling Your Products

• Week 8: Social Media and Networking

• Week 9: E-commerce

• Week 10: Pitch It!

By joining the START Up Business Hub Programme, students will:

• have the opportunity to access mentorships with enterprise experts
• be supported to enter into regional initiatives to potentially win funding for their business
• meet expert enterprise coaches and influential entrepreneurs
• become Elite Members of The Sheffield Chamber of Commerce Business and Enterprise Academy
• be equipped with the knowledge and support to START Up their own business
• have the opportunity to be selected to present their ideas to a panel of business experts in a Dragons’ Den style event at Sheffield Technology Parks
• have the opportunity to win £1000 worth of credit for Sheffield Technology Parks services along with mentoring and peer support through Sheffield Technology Parks’ Cooper Project for six months.

Students eligible:

The START Up Business Hub Programme is available for students who are studying programmes at Level 3 or above, and Apprentices. There is also some flexibility for students who show commitment and are on programmes which aren't Level 3 or higher.

Dates:

There will be two groups for these sessions over the remainder of the academic year:

Group one - TBC

Group two - TBC

These sessions will be delivered every week from 10:30am - 12:00pm on a Monday in the Chamber Academy Lecture Theatre at City Campus. When signing up, students are committing to complete the full 10-week programme.