Business Boost arrives in Brighton

NatWest’s ‘Entrepreneurial Spark’ was launched in newly-refurbished offices at 149 Preston Road and has already recruited more than 80 start-up entrepreneurs from the city area.

The University of Brighton is one of three ‘anchor’ tenants given office space at what is being termed the ‘hatchery’, alongside Brighton and Hove Chamber of Commerce and Cobb PR. All three will support the entrepreneurs.

Entrepreneurial Spark supports “proactive entrepreneurs to develop a solid grasp of ways to create value, and attract investment”. The focus is on the individual and mentors, ambassadors and a full-time ‘entrepreneurial enabler’ will support a programme of workshops, pitch practice and action-centred development.

All of the entrepreneurs were selected for the free programme through a rigorous application process which involved a ‘Dragon’s Den’-style pitch presentation.

Oscar Blazquez and Judith Badger at the launch of Entrepreneurial Spark.

Some of the recruits are University of Brighton graduates. They include Oscar Blazquez, founder and Director of Iberica Delights, Spanish food importer. Pictured here at the launch with Judith Badger, the university’s Training and Development Manager.

The university will be working in partnership with NatWest to measure the programme’s qualitative impact on the local area, as well as developing meaningful relationships with the hatchery entrepreneurs, providing information, support, expertise and access to relevant university services and people. The university will also jointly support events and help with finding inspirational speakers.

Professor Chris Pole, Deputy-Vice-Chancellor, said: “The university will be working in close partnership with NatWest to extend this vital support to the next generation of entrepreneurs in the city, to help them make a success of their start-up businesses.

The hatchery is all about harnessing and accelerating talent and we are delighted that several of our graduate entrepreneurs will be part of it.”

Judith Badger of the university’s Training and Development Unit will be coordinating the relationships. For more information, you can contact Judith Badger at J.Badger@brighton.ac.uk or 07984 122 195.