Hello again!!! 😊
I hope you’re enjoying your summer! Today’s blog will be about business opportunities at UCB.
The Enterprise Hive office can be found on the 7th floor in our Summer Row campus. If you have an amazing business idea and would like help in setting up your business, this is the place to go! The enterprise advisers are really helpful, encouraging and knowledgeable.
There is a programme called BSEEN, which is a 12-month start-up incubator for students and graduates living in the Greater Birmingham & Solihull LEP region, who are ready to turn their business or social enterprise idea into reality.
I first discovered the BSEEN programme after speaking to Nethan Punj, one of the Enterprise Hive & BSEEN advisers.
I told him about my dream of becoming a helicopter pilot and the difficulties associated with becoming one (mainly financial). He suggested that I set up my own business alongside university to give myself an extra income to help me save for my pilot’s licences.
I had two business ideas, both of which I have gone ahead with. My first business is not funded by BSEEN as there were very few start-up costs. This business is called The Golden Lead Dog Walker. You can find my business advertised mainly on Facebook as I have my own business page. I offer dog walks and pet sitting services around Birmingham, Walsall, Bloxwich and Great Wyrley. If you could go ahead and give my page a like I would be really appreciate it as I aim to get at least 100 likes by the end of this year!
   
   
My other business idea was to provide acrylic and gel nails with luxury treatments and optional nail art. I have completed a training course to become a nail technician and have my certificates so I’m fully qualified. I then applied for the BSEEN programme to get my start-up costs funded. I had to deliver a presentation to the Enterprise Hive and BSEEN advisers. I’m not very good at delivering presentations but Joseph and Nethan weren’t that scary to present to so I wasn’t as nervous.
   
   
I am now in line for:
• A 5-day bootcamp
• Mentoring
• Office space
• A grant
I still need to finalise a few things with my nail business but I will do another blog about this journey to let you know how good the BSEEN programme is!
You can also follow Enterprise Hive at UCB on LinkedIn and take a look at some of the other students’ successful business ideas!
Thanks for reading! 😊
Charley