Kent Enterprise Hub Overview of Activities

Stephanie Barwick

Business Engagement Manager

31st October 2012

• SEEDA Hub until end of 2009

• In 2010, change into a fully funded University of Kent facility

• Students, graduates, staff

• Student enterprise activities

Background

• 45 student / graduate / staff companies created (97 members of staff, impact on local economy of approx. £3 million)

• Over 300 business advice sessions held

• Over 200 drop-in sessions held

• 12 Kent Enterprise Hub Grants awarded and 4 Business Mentor prizes (£28,000)

• 4 Hub companies received private capital investment funding (approx. £300k)

• 4 Hub companies relocated to Canterbury Innovation Centre

• 1 Hub company (Geneform Technologies) sold at £6million

• 1 Hub company (OTI) taken over by Scottish firm, OPTOS

• Network of Hub Mentors established

• KEH is delivering the largest two business modules for KBS (CB612 ‘Business Planning module’ and CB613 ‘Entrepreneurship’)

Achievements since Jan 2010

• 50 Hub companies

• 20 IT companies

• Others – covers all sectors

• Total number of employees: over 100

• Kent Enterprise Hub Impact on economy: £3.5million

(based on NCGE impact report April 2010)

Details of Hub companies

Student Enterprise

Employability Skills Development

Academic Engagement

Underpinning activities

Since Jan 2010

32 Networking events held – over 2000 student attendances

13 Student Competitions – 300 students taking part

6 Enterprise Courses – 75 students attended

80 student events run in The Bulb, Canterbury Innovation Centre

New student enterprise society established – SIFE (‘Students in Free Enterprise’) which is part of a global brand

Student Enterprise Activities

Student Innovation Zone – working with academic schools to promote extra curricular activities

Employability Points scheme established – over 2,000 students and 86 employers engaged in 2011/12, over 350 students were awarded a prize

EP scheme showcased by BIS as a best university-busienss collaboration and EP scheme shortlisted in the Times Higher Education Awards 2012

Working with Unit for Learning Enhancement & Teaching to promote reflective development for students to enhance life skills / employability skills via e-PDP ‘MyFolio’

Employability Skills Development

Academic Mentor Scheme established to fund early stage ideas development – 6 projects

CB612, CB613

School of Psychology – Lean Start-up workshops launched

School of Psychology – creation of a new wild entrepreneurship module

EU Interreg IV Seas funding received ‘FUSION’

Winners of the Barbara Morris Prize of the University of Kent 2011 – outstanding achievement in student support

Academic Engagement

• Increased tuition fees in HE – students / clients expecting more for their money

• Increased emphasis on student experience and student employability

• Government push on private sector job creation

• 83 graduate applicants for one job – more and more graduates will consider setting up their own businesses in the future

• Emphasis on innovation & high growth potential of start-ups

• Let’s build on the success of the Kent Enterprise Hub and maximise its impact

Crossroads

• 60% of entrepreneurs who have set up a business that has closed down are likely to set up another business in the future

• 77% of businesses survive after 2 years if founded by graduate(s)

• Since 2008 there has been a 46% jump in students considering self-employed

• It is predicted that 32% of all UK students will be setting up a business at some point in their lives post university

• 28% of highly successful entrepreneurs attribute their success to setting up numerous businesses throughout their teenage/young adult years.

Interesting statistics