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1Entrepreneurship and Innovation yearbook 2012

Entrepreneurship and Innovation yearbook 2012www.ei.bham.ac.uk

Moving in the right circles

Foreword – Angela Maxwell 4

What to expect and how to navigate 5

Entrepreneurship and Innovation: What we do? 6

An introduction by Dan Corlett 7

Birmingham Entrepreneurs – Busy BE 9

What’s in our toolkit? – SimVenture 10

Caine Woodward – Plan B 11

ASSESS Summer School 12

BUS tour 13

Class act 14

Plant & Moss 15

Leading Academics –

Leadership Development Programme 16

Talent Pool – Professional Development Programme 17

Talent Pool Case Study – Alex Stephenson-Brown –

A new dimension 18

Talent Pool Case Study – Emma Carter –

Graduate School Project 19

LJP Language Services 21

Holly and Megan – law4nonlaw 22

law4nonlaw 23

Fay Hunkins Walcott – Hunkins cHoice 24

Areeb Khan – Torneoz 25

Chris Hale – AcclimatiseMe 26

AcclimatiseMe 27

Success at AGCAS awards 28

SIFE – Enterprise with impact 30

SIFE 31

National success with international projects 32

Postgraduate Enterprise Summer School 33

Where are they now? – James Eder 35

Where are they now? – Andrew Ward 36

Andrew Ward 37

Where are they now? – Beachbreak Live 38

Where are they now? – Sam Decombel 39

Where are they now? – Faizan Bhat 40

Contents

2 Entrepreneurship and Innovation yearbook 2012

Where next? – New to Entrepreneurship and Innovation in 2012/13 42

Who, me? 43

A word from our supporters – Santander 44

Profile affiliations

Enterprise at Birmingham

bseen

Social Enterprise at Birmingham

Entrepreneurial Alumni

Future plans


We’ve used cutting-edge technology to bring you the most up-to-date information throughout this yearbook. Wherever you see the QR code logo, scan it using your smartphone to watch videos that will enhance the section you are reading about.This yearbook is available on our website: www.intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/ei

Foreword

With today’s competitive environment dominating the media headlines, it has never been more important for graduates to embrace the entrepreneurial spirit when they leave university.

This attribute will be essential in separating them from the competition when seeking employment or, as so many young people are now choosing to do, in going it alone and becoming their own boss.

That is why it’s so pleasing to see the wide range of programmes and opportunities currently available for students, enabling them to develop their mindsets and gain practical skills and experience that will be so crucial when forging a career after university.

It gives me great pleasure to introduce the University of Birmingham’s second Entrepreneurship and Innovation yearbook.

I’m also delighted by the increasing number of students who are keen to improve local communities, business and charities, not to mention the lives of countless people around the globe.

This is clearly evident in the growing popularity of programmes that focus on social and ethical enterprise. These may well be buzzwords currently doing the rounds but there’s a big difference between hype and actually doing something that will leave a positive impact.

I congratulate these students and graduates who are thinking big and acting on their dreams.

Enjoy reading their stories, I certainly did!


Dr Angela Maxwell, OBE

wHAt to eXPeCt And How to nAVIGAte

At Entrepreneurship and Innovation, we are:o Providing practical learning experiences and

access to networks of enterprising professionalso Growing entrepreneurial communities of practice

that stimulate innovation and personal developmento Showcasing student and graduate talent, business

success and programmes of best practice to regional, national and global audiences

We hope that in reading this yearbook, you will see that we are meeting these aims. However, it’s not meant to be a dry annual report, and ultimately, it shouldn’t be about us. It is a celebration of students and graduates who are taking up the mantle of entrepreneurial leader, and the impact of their creative talents and hard work.

The book is in five sections1) Enterprise at Birmingham (pages 7–19)

A showcase of the range of ways in which students are developing and exercising their entrepreneurial curiosity and talents

2) bseen programme (pages 21–28) A small selection of the many start-ups we supported this year

3) Social Enterprise at Birmingham (pages 30–33) How students are using enterprise principles to bring about change for communities close to home and overseas

4) Alumni (pages 35–40) Following up on some more entrepreneurial alumni to see how business has progressed since university days

5) Future plans (pages 42–43) What will be coming up in the year ahead and how you can play a part


entrePreneursHIP And InnoVAtIon: wHAt we do?

o Business incubation through coaching, mentoring, training, funding and access to office space and business technology

o Innovation competition to stimulate new ideaso Extra-curricular training for would-be entrepreneurs

and students who want to enhance their CVso Range of self-access resources for self-development

and business planningo Teaching and assessing enterprise components in the curriculum o Consultancy to academics who want to embed enterprise

in the curriculum o Support to a range of enterprising societies and student groups o Open access workshops and speaker events

Who we are:o 3 Enterprise Consultantso 3 Projects and Events Managerso 1 Incubator Managero many associate mentors, advisers and trainers

The team is part of Careers Network at the University of Birmingham and offers the following:

In 2011–12, we worked with over 650 individual students directly, and helped countless more through our online resources and network of associates.



Se ng opportunityB ng enterprisingFre ng potential

Enterprise at BirminghamBirmingham is a very enterprising university. Not only is there a strong community of students and staff engaged in enterprise, but we also work closely with alumni who have gone on to start their own businesses and social enterprises, or who have entrepreneurial roles in other organisations. Business people and entrepreneurs from the city and the region also engage with us as mentors, trainers, advisors, role-models, speakers and investors.


BIrmInGHAm entrePreneurs

Busy BE

The society aims to support enterprise across the University and give its 300 members the information and skills to start their own businesses.

For President Ratnesh Bakhai, a second year Accounting and Finance student, a personal highlight of the past year has been achieving so much as a team. ‘Working together with so many different types of people, from students to business owners and the EI team, has been really interesting,’ he says.

The Society’s first success of the year was an enterprise-based Meet and Greet event attended by 250 people who were split into four groups

and challenged to come up with a business idea relating to one of four sectors, with the winning team receiving iTunes vouchers.

Bringing Silicon Valley to the UK was the theme for BE’s second major event. Colin Tan, CEO of RentLord, and James Eder, Co-Founder of student marketing company The Beans Group, gave presentations about how to succeed with technology and online businesses to an audience of 150.

‘This was a really good event; James was inspirational and Colin informational and it was really interactive with people testing out their business ideas,’ Ratnesh says.

With the Midlands’ first ever Regional Apprentice competition, a Silicon Valley event and a very well attended Meet and Greet, 2011/12 has been a busy year for student society Birmingham Entrepreneurs (BE).

Birmingham hosted the Midlands’ first Regional Apprentice competition in conjunction with sponsors Ernst and Young. This involved teams from seven universities taking part in a challenge to make as much money as they could from £10 in six hours. Selling squash and blagging products to resell were among the methods employed and the winning team made more than £200, in addition to the £500 prize money.

Plans this year include: business-to-business networking events, more social nights and attracting high profile speakers.

For further information about BE, visit www.birmingham-entrepreneurs.com


wHAt’s In our toolkIt?

SimVenture

Before starting a real venture, a business simulator is a great way of trying, and importantly, failing, many times over. Like a trainee airline pilot in a flight simulator, the student experiences a very realistic environment, must master a huge array of different ‘controls’, and rehearses their response to many difficult situations.

What surprises many people trying SimVenture for the first time is the range of decisions they have to take and the amount of information they need to pay attention to. Customers, competitors and suppliers all need a watchful eye; market research,

marketing, product design, pricing all need to be aligned; production, finance, HR and legal aspects of the business also need constant attention. Each and every variable can have a complex knock-on effect.

More important than winning (or even surviving), is learning why and how a business has succeeded or failed and this is where the software is particularly powerful. Detailed summary monthly reports, alongside built-in tutorials and a real-time ‘business advisor’ can be used to unpick the cause-and-effect.

We know that confidence is a good indicator of future business success, and that confidence (the real thing, not just naive bravado) is built through learning by doing. So how do students gain experience that will help them to create successful ventures in the future?

We include simulations in a large number of our teaching and training activities at all levels of study, and the software is also available across campus for students and staff to just walk up and use. Next time you’re passing, why not drop in and try it for yourself or attend one of our taster sessions?

‘This is the most useful course I took part in at university! I didn’t think it was for me, but I have learnt valuable skills for my future career’Talent Pool participant, 2012.


CAIne woodwArd

Plan B

Caine, a final year International Business with Chinese Language student, came up with an effervescent tablet, similar to the fizzy Vitamin C tablets which are widely available, made with a natural blend of five herbs scientifically proven to improve memory including gingko and bacopa.

He channelled his interest in the health and fitness industry to research the idea, focusing on a number of different herbs known to enhance memory which are collectively known as nootropics.

‘There are more synthetic cognitive enhancers available but the best thing about my product is that it’s completely natural,’ Caine says.

During the Plan B contest, Caine was asked to submit an initial business plan and give presentations to two different sets of judges. He believes the questions the judges posed afterwards were the make or break part of the contest.

‘There weren’t necessarily any right or wrong answers; I think I just needed to show them I had the temperament to take on that sort of grilling,’ he says. ‘No business idea is perfect but I was able to admit where I was wrong and come up with practical solutions.’

He admits he was surprised when he won because he was up against some really good

Searching for ways to improve his memory during his studies was the inspiration for Caine Mason Woodward, the winner of this year’s Plan B contest. Plan B is the University’s annual innovative ideas competition and is open to all students, regardless of their discipline or level of study.

ideas, and he has kept in touch with several of the other competitors. His prize was £1,500 plus £500 of market research to take the business forward to the next level.

Since the Plan B contest, Caine has had samples of the drink made up in a factory in Germany. He is currently testing these samples and is hoping to visit the factory to finalise the product when he returns from a trip to China.

‘I’m really grateful for the support I’ve received from EI through Plan B,’ Caine says.


ASSESS Summer School

The course was the first of its kind designed and delivered by EI to a group of 25 Social Sciences undergraduate students studying at the University of Birmingham.

Students were offered an alternative experience in the form of a week long programme in enterprise and entrepreneurial leadership.

Students worked in small groups to consider a solution to a real life challenge experienced in the daily lives of the less fortunate in the third world countries. The challenge was focused on one of the Millennium Development Goals, ‘find an innovative, workable and enterprise-led solution to achieve universal primary education’.

All the attendees had little or no knowledge of enterprise and business in general which created an excellent environment to nourish their entrepreneurial curiosity.

The course gave students the opportunity to: oDiscover their inner entrepreneur through

the understanding of all the FACETS of an entrepreneur

oBuild on their communication and team working skills

oMake a difference with their unique ideas, thus exploring their inner social entrepreneur

oUnderstand and develop a business strategyoGet creative and run their own

simulated business

The Aspiring Social Sciences Entrepreneurs’ Summer School (ASSESS) programme took place on the 19 to 23 September 2011.

oTake note from guest speakers and experts in the field and

oMeet like-minded people and network with professionals

The outcome at the end of the programme was highly energised individuals competing for the top team spot awarded by a panel of experts on the presentation of their business solution. The week ended with a pleasant networking session including drinks and canapés.


BUS tour

The day began at 8.00am and included visits to and talks from: Urban Coffee Company; Initiative for Social Entrepreneurs; UnLtd; BITA Pathways; Citizen Coaching CIC; Lasan Restaurant and Glide Utilities. This diverse range of technology start-ups, social enterprises and hospitality businesses around the centre of Birmingham provided our students with an excellent snapshot of how to create and grow your own enterprise.

The purpose of the day was to:o Raise awareness of enterprise to our students

who have yet to engage with entrepreneurship at the University of Birmingham

o Promote local businesses and social enterprises that have been created by Birmingham alumni and/or have worked with the wider University

o Highlight to students that they could be the ‘future entrepreneurs’ of the region

o Gain first hand experience of how it maybe easier than you think to start a business

o Gain first hand advice from the entrepreneurs themselves

On Wednesday 13th June 2012 the Entrepreneurship and Innovation team took to the roads on its first ever BUS Tour (Birmingham University Start-Up Tour). The bus was filled with 25 young, enthusiastic and aspiring entrepreneurs keen to meet and learn from the entrepreneurs in the city of Birmingham.

Feedback‘Thank you for a brilliant and inspirational day. I had no idea of the scale of things going on in Birmingham and I’ve learnt a lot.’

‘Very good orientation for beginners into entrepreneurship.’

‘Starting your own business is not that hard. The key is the idea. Sometimes your business does not need to be related to your studies.’

‘Start my own business – I had already intended to but I am 100% definite now!’


Class act

The project, coordinated by Entrepreneurship and Innovation saw teams of five students work with each business, offering their experience and technical knowledge to the entrepreneurs. In return, the entrepreneurs offered a window into their business and an insight into the energetic, yet often messy world of the start-up.

Spread over a full term, the teams agreed specific areas of need with each entrepreneur, which became the focus for their involvement. As well as ongoing mentoring, the teams acted as consultants, delivering a final report and presentation on their recommendations to the companies.

All MBA students have a minimum of five years relevant business experience and many are already expert in fields such as finance, human resources and marketing.

The start-ups, mostly originating from Entrepreneurship and Innovation, were in a diverse range of sectors, from consultancy to cosmetics and furniture design to online social networks.

Birmingham Business School’s whole MBA class of 2011–12 were enlisted as part of their studies to mentor fifteen fledgling businesses.

15Entrepreneurship and Innovation yearbook 2012 15Entrepreneurship and Innovation yearbook 2012

Plant & Moss


leAdInG ACAdemICs

Leadership Development Programme

Building on the success of last year, the June 2012 programme saw 33 participants take part in seven lunch time sessions, all on the theme of leadership but offering a rich range of experiences and perspectives for Doctoral Researchers to tap into. Guest speakers included Dr. Alice Roberts, broadcaster and Professor of Public Engagement at University of Birmingham, Vice-Chancellor Professor David Eastwood, Jennifer Tann of Caret Consulting Group and Professor of Innovation Studies, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Lawrence Young, and Dr Judith Smith, Head of Policy at the Nuffield Institute.

All of the speakers gave fascinating insights into what it takes on both a personal and professional level to succeed at the top, as well as providing participants with useful frameworks and toolkits for their own future careers.

After learning direct from leaders at the top of their field, the Doctoral Researchers then worked together in small peer groups to reflect on their learning and develop personal leadership manifestos. MBTI Psychometric testing and personalised feedback sessions were also made available to participants.

Designed and delivered by EI, the ‘Leading Academics’ leadership development programme was first launched in 2011 to support Doctoral Researchers in developing their leadership potential, both in and outside of academia.

Supported by the Graduate School, the Leading Academics programme was offered at no cost to Doctoral Researchers with leadership potential across all University disciplines.

‘I would really recommend the Leading Academics programme to other Doctoral Researchers. It gives a fascinating insight into the careers and perspectives of some very successful individuals. But it also made me consider my career plans in a very different way, something that will have a real impact as I come to the final stages of my PhD.’Leading Academics (2012) Participant


tAlent Pool

Professional Development Programme

Through the Talent Pool we are developing the next generation of business consultants, entrepreneurs and academics.

Through an intensive training programme, researchers are challenged to deal with common business issues at the end of which they are tested at an assessment centre. Businesses can then tap into this talent through the commissioning of specific short-term consultancy projects and/or work placements.

For researchersA programme of professional development that provides customised transferable skills training. Find out how your research skills are sought by

companies and the social and private sectors. Build competencies in consulting and enterprise that will support your academic and other career aspirations. Understand business models, pricing and project management; upgrade your pitching and presenting skills; develop stronger negotiation, influencing and other interpersonal skills; and build a network of peers, academics, business people and leaders.

‘I started the Talent Pool programme just as something for my CV. I have got so much more out of it. Having done the programme, I can honestly say that it is the best thing that I have done since coming to university. The Talent Pool team are really great and if you have

The Talent Pool is a unique programme developed by the University of Birmingham to support research students in developing knowledge transfer relationships with businesses.

even a passing interest in entrepreneurship or consulting then definitely sign up.’Amrit Chandan, PhD with integrated studies in Hydrogen, Fuel Cells and their Applications

For businessesIf you are a business looking for additional resources to deliver specific projects then through the Talent Pool we can provide access to over 200 research students covering most business sectors. Each with high level specialist knowledge and abilities, they also offer highly transferable research, innovation and evaluation skills. Projects can be individual or team-based, providing multi-disciplinary expertise and allowing for a wide range of project sizes.


tAlent Pool CAse studY

Alex Stephenson-Brown –

A new dimension

For researchers like Alex, the Talent Pool provides an opportunity to leave their research environment and learn a broad range of business skills, with sessions including networking, consultancy work and launching a start-up.

Alex is currently working in chemical engineering, where employing nanotechnological techniques, he designs and produces sensor systems which may be used in the diagnosis and monitoring of disease such as cancer and diabetes.

When he completes his research he is not sure if he wants to stay in academia and is still undecided about exactly which career path he wants to pursue, so he believes taking part in the programme has broadened his options.

‘I didn’t want to come out of my PhD with skills which are only relevant to academic employment; because of this I have been keen to get involved with any opportunity to gain broader experience, particularly in relation to consultancy and business’ he says. ‘On the Talent Pool programme it was great to have the opportunity to find out about working as a consultant and what it takes to potentially start your own business.

‘I met a lot of like-minded people from across the University, which was worthwhile as when you’re doing research it’s easy to get stuck inside a bubble of your own department or even your own lab,’ he says.

Doctoral Researcher Alex Stephenson-Brown found the professional development training offered by the Talent Pool programme invaluable.

The Talent Pool led to an opportunity for Alex when he was put in touch with a company in the Ukraine who needed a market research contractor.

‘It wasn’t highly technical but it was a chance to do something different and I was able to go travelling afterwards,’ he says.

Alex’s advice to anyone considering joining the Talent Pool is to go for it. ‘It’s a really good experience and I’d encourage people to take part,’ he says. ‘Learning skills such as networking that you can transfer from academia into real life is vital.’


tAlent Pool CAse studY

Emma Carter – Graduate School Project

The report she produced identified any relationships between attendance on University Graduate School skills development provision and research degree completion rates and examination results. This will help the University Graduate School measure the impact of its PGR development provision.

‘I thoroughly enjoyed the project’ Emma said. ‘It was a refreshing change to my area of research and I met a lot of very nice and interesting people.’ For Emma, the Talent Pool sessions which directly related to writing project proposals and negotiating with clients were particularly relevant to the University Graduate School task. ‘One of the most significant things I gained from the Talent Pool programme was the confidence

to put myself forward for the project and charge money for it’ she added.

University Graduate School Manager Dr Catherine Mills said she was aware of the Talent Pool programme because the University Graduate School had supported it from the outset as a key development opportunity for Birmingham’s PGRs and she saw no reason to use an external consultant when there was such a wealth of talent inside the University. Emma’s application was one of two that stood out because it included a clear, confident description of how she would tackle the task. ‘Emma had the quantitative data skills we were looking for and, importantly, she didn’t overestimate the amount of work involved’ Catherine said.

When the University’s Graduate School needed a consultant to run a project they looked no further than the Talent Pool. Dr Emma Carter was chosen from a total of eight applicants to quantitatively analyse postgraduate researcher data.

After impressing at interview with her presentation, confidence and examples of previous work, Emma was chosen to complete the project and Catherine is delighted with the result; ‘Emma produced exactly what we were looking for from the report. She was reliable, enthusiastic and capable of overcoming problems by herself’ she said.

Emma has now switched to a part-time role within the University and is planning on doing some more consultancy work as well as developing a coaching practice. ‘The training and support I received from the Talent Pool and the experience of actually delivering a project for the University Graduate School has been an excellent preparation for my future career plans’ she says.


Birmingham Skills for Enterprise and Employability Network provides business startup support to recent graduates across the city of Birmingham at a time when many will see business start up and self-employment as an attractive career option. With incubator support, training, mentoring and career guidance, the programme gives participants the tools they need to succeed.


lIsA PreVett

LJP Language Services

The best part of the programme for me has been the workshops which focussed on marketing and pitching, these were really helpful for tailoring existing ideas and helping to make my business stand out.

The training and mentoring has been incredibly useful to discuss ideas and strategies with other professionals, to learn from their experience and get their advice about ways of moving the business forward in many different areas.

bseen has helped me learn how to maximise existing public speaking skills and has equipped me with new tools for presenting myself in the business environment.

With enhanced branding and marketing aids in place as a direct result of the bseen sessions, I now feel confident that the image of my business backs up the quality of my translation services and that LJP Languages is ready to compete on all fronts for new contracts with direct clients.

I would advise potential participants that if you have a business idea or a new small business, bseen gives you the tools to help develop and expand your business and gives you access to professionals who can help take your business to the next level.

Looking for high-quality translations at competitive prices, then LJP Language Services is here to help. Working from French and German into English, we offer bespoke translation and editing services for varying text types. We are experienced in translating different types of documents, including marketing, financial, legal, IT and technical texts.

Main activities

oCreated a multi-lingual company website (in English, French and German)

o Collaborated with an experienced translator in new specialist fields to enhance my range of services

The future

Actively building up a new client base pursuing B2B and individual clients with the aim of securing new contracts to provide translation and editing services to businesses and individuals on a more long-term/permanent basis.

Contact

[email protected]


HollY And meGAn

law4nonlaw

For us the best part of the bseen programme was taking part in the Dragon’s Den Style pitch. Realising that other people also saw the potential in our business was an incredible feeling.

The training and mentoring provided by the bseen scheme has allowed us to be in a position now that we could not have achieved so quickly without the support. It has been fundamental to the start up of Law4nonlaw.

Whilst on the programme we have both discovered that we can achieve our goals by careful planning, drive and a fair sprinkling of optimism. We have also learnt that if you want good results you need to work hard.

Following on from the bseen scheme we would definitely consider following new business ideas in the future. The scheme has made us realise that it is always worth taking the plunge with a new idea as any risks can be minimised with careful planning.

We would certainly advise all students with an idea to apply to bseen. As long as the students put in the time and effort they will reap the rewards of having been involved with the scheme. bseen is a great scheme as it provides you with the tools for success; your result is shaped by what you make of them.

Law4nonlaw is a new start up Community Interest Company which, through university societies, supports non-law students considering a career in law and creates advertising opportunities and networking events which allow law firms to directly access the non-law student body.

Main activities

oSuccessfully set up three University societies which have ran multiple events

o Started a monthly newsletter to our members o Secured funding with bseen o In the process of rebranding and building

a companion website to complement our societies

The future

o Finalise rebranding o Support the creation of more

law4nonlaw societies across the country o Hold several regional events

Contact

[email protected]


law4nolaw


Fay Hunkins walcott

Hunkins cHoice

Hunkins cHoice works with individuals in Higher education and workers both self employed and employed. The purpose of mentoring is to enable end clients to reach their potential in their chosen course/role by managing their health and wellbeing positively. The various engagement tools used within the mentoring sessions will benefit end clients in reducing isolation, positively evaluate their strengths, build up their limitations.

Whilst on the bseen programme I have gained a contract currently worth £12,600 with Coventry University as their sole Specialist Mental Health Mentoring service supplier and also secured an associate contract with MIND for training to large organisations currently worth £4,800.

Hunkins cHoice is an innovative mentoring organisation working in the areas of mental health and wellbeing. Hunkins cHoice offers a range of mentoring experiences designed for individual needs. Hunkins cHoice is based in the West Midlands and currently works within a 30 mile radius.

Main activities

oSet up a virtual office for managing growth in work

o Recruited three Associateso Created a group focused

mentor support group

The future

o Steady growth in training work for other organisations

Contact

Tel: 0845 643 7312


Areeb khan

Torneoz

The best part of this programme for me has been one to one meetings with my business advisor/mentor Suzanne Skeete.

The training and mentoring through bseen has helped me realise all the other things that need to be taken in account other than the obvious costs.

I have learnt I have the ability and skills to make my idea a reality if I am a bit more proactive. Having got as far as I did in the process and doing as well as I did, the programme has boosted my confidence to try new ventures.

Whilst on bseen I have invested £5000 and raised an additional £3000. I have helped over 50 tournament organisers through the site within first 3 months and am in the process of working in partnership with Powerleague and Goals.

I would advise prospective participants of bseen ‘You have nothing to lose and everything to gain so don’t think about it and just go for it’.

Torneoz.com is the world’s first online tournament portal. It is the new way to stay on top of football tournaments across the UK. Whether people are trying to promote, organise or participate in tournaments; Torneoz offers an excellent portal to help people along their way.

Main activities

oSponsored a local football team which reached the cup final at Villa Park

o Launched live websiteo Currently have over 100 registered members

and growingo Development of mobile phone app underway

The future

The business aim is to become a well-recognised national brand in the next couple of years.

Contact

[email protected] 0782889247


Chris Hale

AcclimatiseMe

The best part of the bseen programme has been receiving advice from business experts on everything from social media to accounts. It has been invaluable to my business!

My mentor has helped me focus my business to help it grow quickly and effectively and the training has given me vast knowledge in every aspect of business.

During this programme I’ve learnt that I have the ability and drive to make this business a success and my business knowledge surpasses my expectations of myself.

This programme has built my confidence and I’ve learned that no matter what business you are involved in, the principles and fundamentals are the same, giving me confidence in any venture I take on.

I would advise other students considering bseen to have confidence in yourself and your idea. The idea you enter the program with may not be the same one you leave with, but you will leave as an entrepreneur!

We provide simulated altitude training from the comfort of your own home, ensuring you reach your peak! So, if you are planning on climbing Kilimanjaro, skiing in the alps or following the inca trail then get in touch!

cclima�seMe

Main activities

oSecured £5200 from the bseen programmeoHad an exhibition stand at The Great

Outdoors show in LondonoCreated a great new website

www.acclimatiseme.com

The future

We aim to become the national leaders in climbing and mountaineering in the next 18 months and then move into the field of sport.

Contact

[email protected] 07899767279www.acclimatiseme.com


AcclimatiseMe


Success at AGCAS awards

Between 2009–2011, bseen (Birmingham Skills for Enterprise and Employability Network) exceeded targets, supporting 90 businesses, enabling 43 new start-ups and training 446 students and graduates in enterprise skills. The independent evaluation report also identified that over 47% of the businesses supported were fully trading and making sufficient profits to continue by the end of the programme.

Beyond achieving its agreed targets, bseen also succeeded in accomplishing its aim of effecting an entrepreneurial culture change across the three institutions, evidenced by the partners’ decision to embed and continue delivering the programme beyond March 2011. Entrepreneurship and Innovation’s Talent Pool programme was also short listed for the same award.

Image: EI’s Dan Corlett collecting the award on behalf of the partnership.

In September 2011, the bseen partnership of Birmingham, Aston and Birmingham City universities received the AGCAS (Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services) Entrepreneurship Award.


Social Enterprise at BirminghamAs a University with civic roots and a strong portfolio in sustainable society research, it is unsurprising that many of the businesses we support are social enterprises. Social entrepreneurs are people who can look beyond the bottom line and bring about positive social or environmental change.Here we profile members of the university who represent this growing movement.


sIFe

Enterprise with impact

SIFE is an international not for profit organisation which aims to build a network of students in higher education to develop businesses and outreach projects which impact on society.

Kathi Hanifnia and Davide Cremonese, the outgoing SIFE President and Vice President, are buoyant with enthusiasm about the Birmingham society’s activities over the past 12 months. ‘Leading the society has been the biggest challenge I’ve ever had in my life but it’s been very interesting,’ Kathi says.

An example of a social outreach scheme that has gone from strength to strength is Breaking the Circle, a project in Bulgaria which helps young people in their late teens leaving

orphanages develop employability skills. This year the SIFE team helped the teenagers start their own soap making business, covering everything from pricing and marketing to production and design.

‘The soap is now used in a local hotel and Bulgaria’s two largest cosmetic companies are interested in stocking it but one guy saying the experience made him feel valued and changed his whole outlook on life made it all worthwhile for us,’ says Kathi.

At the SIFE national competition finals, the team won the Wilkinson Entrepreneurship Award for its Forgotten Vintage consultancy project, helping a homelessness charity set up a vintage

From setting up a vintage clothing store in Birmingham to soap making in Bulgaria, 2012 has been an eventful year for Birmingham’s Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) society.

clothing shop in the city centre. The charity is now running the business successfully by itself.

SIFE also won the Community Impact Award from Birmingham’s Guild of Students for improving people’s lives through eight social outreach projects, and teaching hundreds of school children business and enterprise skills through a series of interactive workshops. ‘When you get involved in SIFE you are leaving something behind that you hope will be sustainable. It’s a fantastic feeling to be part of something that is genuinely improving people’s lives,’ Davide says.

Anyone interested in joining SIFE next year should contact [email protected]


SIFE


National success with international projects

As well as presenting to distinguished judges, team members also dined with top business executives at the competition gala dinner. The team’s student leader, Kathi Hanifnia who graduated this year, was recognised for outstanding achievement and EI’s Dan Corlett, the team’s university mentor, also picked up one of two SIFE University Advisor awards.

Our SIFE team forms part of the global SIFE movement, which aims ‘To bring together the top leaders of today and tomorrow to create a better, more sustainable world through the positive power of business’. Ours is one of

46 such teams in the UK, and 1500 worldwide, and they have made a difference to the lives of disadvantaged people from Birmingham to Bulgaria.

The team undertook a huge range of projects, supported by advisors from companies including Wilkinson, Enterprise, HSBC, Beiersdorf and Mars. They ran enterprise projects in local schools, assisted a charity to launch a vintage clothing shop, helped Bulgarian orphans create their own micro-enterprise, and raised funding through their very own campus clothing brand, BSC.

In April 2012, Birmingham’s Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) team scooped the Wilkinson Entrepreneurship Award for the second year in a row, and made it through to the semi-finals of the UK National SIFE awards, held in London.

SIFE students are always in demand by employers because of their leadership and enterprise skills, their drive, and their experience of working with corporate partners.


Postgraduate Enterprise Summer School

The Summer School equips Doctoral Researchers with transferable skills and knowledge to give their careers a professional edge, whether in academia, private enterprise or third sector. This year’s event partnered Doctoral Researchers with local social enterprise, Birmingham & Black Country Community Foundation (BBCCF) to offer participants the opportunity to work on a real life business case.

BBCCF benefited from high level research skills and practical recommendations from the participants, helping the organisation solve several strategic challenges and move forwards with new opportunities.

Yvonne Palmer, Director of Operations and Programmes at BBCCF, said:‘The experience for both BBCCF and the students was amazing….really really good. Everyone got a lot out of it, with the winning team going beyond their brief and putting in really good recommendations. Participants seemed to enjoy working with a real life project and meeting people in the community. Two or three people will continue to volunteer with us!’

Participants worked in five small teams on one of three project briefs set by BBCCFF. Each project brief identified a real, strategic challenge currently faced by the organisation. Participants were then tasked with the job of researching their brief and

The Postgraduate Enterprise Summer School (PESS) is an intensive week-long course for Doctoral Researchers, supported by the Graduate School and delivered by Entrepreneurship and Innovation (EI), part of Careers Network at the University of Birmingham.

developing a fully costed proposal. On the final day of the Summer School, the teams presented their proposals to a panel of BBCCF and other social enterprise representatives at a BBQ Lunch and Awards Ceremony, where the overall winning team and runners up were announced.

Alongside working in teams to develop their proposals and presentations, the Doctoral Researchers also attended a full programme of interactive professional skills training sessions. This intensive, two-pronged approach allowed participants to immediately apply theoretical learning to a real-life business case, thereby cementing their knowledge and skills base for future personal development and growth.


Entrepreneurial Alumni

A number of students from the University of Birmingham have gone on to become successful entrepreneurs. Here you can find out about their journeys; the highs and lows of setting up their own business and how they got to where they are today.


where are they now?

James Eder

The site provides students with deals and promotions plus advice about University life. Today it attracts 800,000 visitors per month, is used by world-leading brands including Apple, Redbull and Microsoft and has a sister site aimed at graduates, morebeans.com.

James came up with the business plan for studentbeans.com as part of his business degree and says the opportunities he got involved with and the skills he learnt at Birmingham, including work placements in the Philippines and Colombia, laid the foundations for becoming an entrepreneur.

‘Over the years EI and the University have been an excellent champion and support for us and the work we do. I’ve returned every year since

I graduated to guest lecture and it’s brilliant to see the growth and support available to students and graduates today. I believe there has never been a better time to have an idea, start a company and be enterprising.’

Over the past seven years The Beans Group staff has grown from two people working in a bedroom to a team of more than 30 people based at offices in North London but how exactly did James get there? He shares his three top tips for making your own business happen below.

1) Don’t take no for an answer. When you’re growing up and you want something as a child just because your parents say no your natural instinct is to ask again and keep

Studentbeans.com is one of the UK’s most popular youth websites and it all started with an idea hatched at Birmingham in 2005.

asking. As we get older we tend to forget how persistent we once were!

2) Be prepared to work. Nothing worthwhile is easy. There have been times in the last seven years that have been incredibly trying, but you get through them. For us the knowledge that we have a website that is valued by British students really helps deal with the challenges.

3) Take responsibility. Whether you work for someone or you are working for yourself, people always find someone to blame and are full of excuses. The only common factor between everything you do is yourself – it’s up to you to take control.


where are they now?

Andrew Ward

Finding a balance between developing the business and working in it has been Andrew’s main challenge but he has now taken on two additional members of staff and is hoping to employ a third soon. Scorchsoft also moved to bigger offices in July.

‘As much as it is exciting to grow I’m cautious about moving too quickly,’ he says.

Andrew participated in both the bseen and SpeedWM programmes and says the skills he learnt were invaluable.

‘University business courses tend to focus on bigger, corporate businesses and not the day

to day things that an entrepreneur has to do such as how to register a company or complete a tax return,’ he adds.

The networking opportunities were another major benefit of being linked to EI; Andrew met a sales and business advisor who helped him put together his business plan and put him in touch with new clients, and also made a lot of like-minded contacts who he has remained friends with.

Future ambitions for Andrew and Scorchsoft include building the company until it is valued at £1 million, which he says is very much about his ego but he believes he can achieve if he employs six people.

Growing his business has been the main focus for Andrew Ward, Managing Director of Scorchsoft, over the past year. Scorchsoft creates and consults on web based software and applications to help companies develop their business strategies.

His advice to other entrepreneurs starting a business venture is to weigh up spending your time versus investing money.

‘You’ve got to put things in place to support growth and create time,’ he says. ‘A good MD focuses entirely on strategy and managing the landscape.’

‘I also think young people also need to appreciate the value of networks. If you look at a businessman like Peter Jones, of Dragons’ Den, he lost everything but was able to build things up again quite quickly because he had the contacts.’


Scorchsoft


Since Celia Norowzian and partner Ian Forshew founded the business six years ago they have impressed the panel on the BBC television show Dragons’ Den and developed two other businesses: student marketing agency Seed Marketing and Seed Staff, a student staffing agency focused on events.

Reviewing the attendance of Beach Break Live over the past six years shows how the business has grown. While the first event attracted around 1,000 students, numbers were at 20,000 this year despite the festival being held during the worst storms in 50 years.

‘It was definitely challenging but an amazing event, there was a real sense of community,

people embraced the mud and the sun came out in the end’ Celia says.

The festival has moved three times in its lifetime and Celia says her biggest challenge was when they had to change its location from the Cornish coast to a safari park in Kent at two weeks’ notice when they lost planning permission at the last minute in 2009. The next year they discovered Pembrey Country Park in Wales, which has a private white sand beach and 500 acres of woodland, and Beach Break Live has been held there ever since.

‘Last year’s festival was my highlight of the past six years because I felt it had really come into its own and we had found the perfect site,’ Celia says.

Beach Break Live is the UK’s biggest student festival, combining quality music with a beautiful location and loads of fun!

Another high point was Celia and Ian’s Dragons’ Den appearance; after attracting the interest of four out of five Dragons they made a deal with Peter Jones but later decided to go with a rival investor offering a better package.

When studying at Birmingham Celia started the Vale Festival and she says her experience of running this event in the supportive University environment gave her the confidence to start a business on a larger scale.

‘Beach Break will continue growing and become better, although not necessarily bigger, every year. Now it’s in the hands of a really good team, I’m excited about developing our other businesses,’ Celia says.

where are they now?

Beachbreak Live


As a University with civic roots and a strong portfolio in sustainable society research, it is unsurprising that many of the businesses we support are social enterprises. Social entrepreneurs are people who can look beyond the bottom line and bring about positive social or environmental change.Here we profile one member of staff and a student society who represent this growing movement.

Sam started PlayDNA in 2010 with help from EI’s bseen programme and has been developing her unique DNA portraits from her Oxford laboratory ever since.

The past year has been incredibly busy for Sam as she has finalised the product range and is now offering a ‘personal’ and a ‘sports’ package with five different genes covered in each. She has confirmed the laboratory protocols, sourced suppliers and worked alongside a graphic designer to style the images. The company’s website is nearing completion and she is now developing a PR and marketing campaign.

‘We had an excellent response when we officially launched our artwork at the Grand

Designs Live exhibition in May’ says Sam. ‘As well as meeting hundreds of potential customers we were approached by a number of media representatives interested in featuring our artwork in magazines and on TV, which was very exciting!’

Before taking part in bseen, Sam developed her business skills as a Technology Transfer Manager but she says it was the incubator programme that gave her the confidence to become an entrepreneur.

‘I’m naturally quite a risk adverse person and I wouldn’t have gambled our first house deposit to go into business if it hadn’t been for EI,’ she jokes. ‘bseen was a starting point and the positive response to my idea got me to

Are you an early bird or a night owl? Do you have a good memory or are you built for speed? Sam Decombel’s business can analyse your DNA, tell you which attributes you possess and create a piece of artwork based on your genetic profile.

believe in myself. Now the uncertainty of what’s ahead excites me!’

Sam sees running out of money and growing the business as her biggest challenges and says she has had to be quite ingenious with her budget. Ideas for the future include the possibility of the product being promoted by an Olympic athlete and working alongside universities to create bespoke training programmes for sportsmen.

‘My advice to other entrepreneurs is do your market research and know what your unique selling point is before you start out. When you have limited resources and budget you have to be very focused.’ she says.

where are they now?

Sam Decombel


This exciting concept meant the business was awarded funding from the Oxygen Accelerator incubator programme, allowing Faizan and Alex to create a business plan and begin their software development.

EI’s Dan Corlett advised the duo to apply to Oxygen Accelerator and Faizan says taking part has been valuable as it has put them in touch with industry experts, angel investors and venture capitalists.

‘Uncertainty is a characteristic part of start-up life,’ Faizan says. ‘If things aren’t uncertain you know you’re not taking enough risks and after a lot of highs and lows over the past nine months we’re now in a pretty exciting place.’

The highs include negotiations with agencies in the UK and Europe who they hope will become clients and discussions with an advertising network in the US about forming a strategic relationship.

Dealing with quiet periods is the biggest challenge Faizan and Alex have faced but they have learnt to accept the ups and downs and remain focused on their original idea, whether things are slow or happening very quickly.

Faizan admits their original business plan was flawed and is enormously thankful that Dan had the patience to read it and advise them what to do next.

Making it possible for consumers to interact with videos is the aim of Seesr, a company launched by Faizan Bhat and Alex Good in September 2011. The duo’s software allows consumers to add items displayed in videos directly to an online shopping basket.

‘I think the biggest challenge when starting a business is knowing what to do next. There are always big questions and EI was always there to help us find the answer and move on to the next stage,’ he says.

‘In terms of strategy we’re now in a completely different place to where we were in September. My advice to other young entrepreneurs is that you don’t have to get every single detail right when you first start out. In my experience, you make real progress by reducing things down and making them less complex; you need to keep things simple and be able to define your business in a sentence.’

Learn more at www.seesr.com

where are they now?

Faizan Bhat


Future plans

Over the next couple of pages see what EI has in store for the next academic year and how you can get involved to support our expanding network of entrepreneurs.


Social EntrepreneurshipWhat this means is more opportunities to engage students and staff in social enterprise, ranging from workshops and events on campus, through to funding for concept testing and to get new ventures off the ground. We will be launching in autumn 2012, with funding rounds starting from spring 2013.

Graduate Entrepreneur VisaA new type of visa has been created for international graduates. The Graduate Entrepreneur Visa allows graduates with high potential business ideas to remain in the country

for up to two years after graduation, and Birmingham has been allocated ten sponsored places per year. We will be recruiting from autumn 2012 onwards.

Online start-up supportSummer 2012 has seen the roll-out of a new online platform for entrepreneurs and would-be venturers. Using the ‘Make-It-Happen’ environment, students can research and plan their businesses online, calling on a network of mentors for advice and guidance and drawing on a large bank of useful resources.

Birmingham has just been named a partner in the UnLtd/HEFCE HE Support Programme.

New to Entrepreneurship and Innovation in 2012/13

PSA ModulesEI will be running two new modules on the Personal Skills Award, the employability programme for undergraduates. ‘Commercial Awareness’ and ‘Entrepreneurial Leadership’ will be taught in the spring term.


MentoringWe always have students in need of mentors who can give them expert advice, introduce them to the right people, and help them shape their ideas.

Online, telephone and face-to-face are all possible so location doesn’t matter. What’s important is a commitment to supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs, and a bank of relevant experience to draw on. You don’t need to be an entrepreneur yourself, perhaps you could help someone navigate through areas such as legal, finance, production, or marketing.

Work experience and job shadowingAre you an entrepreneur or run an entrepreneurial company/department? Could you offer work experience or job shadowing opportunities, or even arrange for groups of students to visit your offices? Whether you’re in Birmingham, the UK or in fact anywhere in the world, we have people who would love to visit you and learn first-hand how you operate.

Case studiesBeen there, done that? We’re always looking for case studies that will inspire and inform students. Whether it’s speaking to a lecture class, running a masterclass for a small group, preparing a briefing note or talking to a video camera, we’d love to capture your experiences.

There are always many ways to get involved and work with Birmingham’s best talent.

Who, me?

The Santander Universities network dates back to 1997, when the first agreement was signed in Spain. The idea originated from Mr Emilio Botin, Chairman of Santander, who thought that the best way to invest in future generations was to support higher education. 14 years later, 968 universities in 17 countries belong to the Santander Universities network and over 21,000 scholarships are funded by Santander every year. In the UK, the activity began in 2007 and, since then, 48 universities have become part of this worldwide network.

Through this agreement signed with the University of Birmingham Santander will fund the following areas:o Scholarships for international Masters

students to study at Birmingham

o Mobility scholarships for undergraduate students at Birmingham to continue their studies in a foreign university

o Support of entrepreneurial activities including: – Support of financial awards to top

students in an annual pitching event – Support of a yearbook and an annual

event to promote enterprise and celebrate student/graduate success

– Support of enterprise coaching and mentoring grants

– Support of the University Formula Student Team

The agreement with Birmingham highlights the most relevant areas of the Santander Universities spirit: Internationalisation, transfer

Santander Universities began its relationship with the University in June 2011. The signing of a 3-year agreement between both institutions marked the beginning of what is set to be a long-lasting partnership.

Photo to be supplied

of knowledge and entrepreneurial activity.For Santander the promotion of these values is the bedrock of a strong higher education sector and through the past few years the bank has been developing initiatives to support research and entrepreneurship.

The University has included a wide range of entrepreneurial activities within the agreement. For Santander, this cutting-edge approach is a clear sign that the University understands the importance of innovation and research as a first step to ultimately provide a service to society.

Luis JusteDirector, Santander Universities

A word from this yearbook’s supporters

Santander


Luis Juste pictured with David Eastwood, Vice-Chancellor and Principal

This was really enjoyable! Very smoothly run with charismatic and knowledgeable course leaders.

The talks from academics were very insightful.

I didn’t realise how passionate I would become about something I chose to do because it sounded good and from which I gained no reward. Really enjoyed the course.


A brilliant talk, I can relate to, filled will excellent experiences of leadership in his career and good amount of humour thrown into the mix also.

Fantastic programme! The best course I have done since starting uni! I would encourage everyone to take part.

This session has greatly improved my own self awareness, this is something that will be invaluable to me in my day-to-day working life.

His insight was breath-taking. He was candid in his delivery but none the less had a lot of pertinent points; much appreciated.


It has been an excellent experience for me. It was very stressful and exhausting but looking back now I would definitely do it again. I realised things about my way of thinking that I didn’t know before, definite improvement of myself.

I really enjoyed this course and it exceeded my expectations of how fun the course would be as well as informative. I have also really enjoyed meeting new people across the university who I may not have come into contact with.

My objectives were met and the programme was above what I expected. I really enjoyed it and had a great time learning lots of new areas of expertise, from having an idea and team dynamics to being able to present an idea clearly.



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