Kent Round One

We have a student incubation centre on the Canterbury campus, the Kent Enterprise Hub, which is where many of the student businesses are based.

We also offer the Small Grant of up to £2000 to help Kent students or recent gradautes to start their own enterprise.

Student Enterprise offers opportunties to develop your enterprise and employability skills while you are at Kent, from attending network sessions, to starting your own business.

We also offer various enterprise workshops such as INNOVATE, Kent Foundation Initiative, as well as the monthly Network612 forum to all interested students. We run an annual business start up competition – ‘Big Ideas’ , and a chance to compete with universities across the country in the IBM Universities Business Challenge, and the Princes Trust Million£ Challenge.

Our Student Innovation Zone wants to encourage more innovation and enterprise and support ideas. We also run the Student Academic Mentor Scheme to help develop new ideas with academic expertise.

The Bulb, is a space in the Canterbury Innovation Centre for Kent students and academic staff to develope innovative extra-curricular projects.

Check out the Link page for many online support and information services available. You can also view the Business Training podcasts, with your University of Kent user ID.

1. Join Kent Round One- which is open to all students and postgrads interested in enterprise.
2. Join the Kent Round One Facebook Page
3. Have a look at the website for the National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurs
4. Look out for events run throughout the year, such as the Entrepreneurship course INNOVATE, and Flying Start – Be Your Own Boss, which will give you access to information and chance to develop your skills and ideas. Kent RoundOne will keep you updated on anything happening in enterprise and employability skills.

If you have an idea for a business don’t know where to start

1. Attend enterprise events such as Network612, on campus, as well as business surgery sessions.
2. You can access an online tool to help you manage the development of your idea. Try the business start-up organiser from Business Link Start putting together a Business Plan.
3. You can have a chat with the Student Enterprise Officer , based at the Enterprise Hub, (opposite the Sports Centre on the Canterbury campus). You can email, or phone (01227 823733) for a meeting.
4. Don’t forget to think about your IP – read these leaflets for more information:Looking after your deas: http://www.patent.gov.uk/patent/info/ideas.pdf
   Patent information: http://www.patent.gov.uk/patent/info/essential.pdf

1. Make and appointment via the Student Enterprise Officer to arrange to talk with a University Business Advisor.
2. Enter the Kent Big Ideas Competition which has a prize pot of £5000.
3. If you want to stay in Kent with your business – talk to Kent Foundation.
4. Search the funding database on http://www.flyingstart-ncge.com
5. Speak to the Princes Trust
6. Register with Business Link for your free Start Up Guide.
7. Setting up a Company