Entrepreneurial training
Turn your vision into a venture
From first spark to launch day, our entrepreneurial pathway gives you the skills, mentoring, and funding to turn ambitious ideas into thriving businesses. Through interactive workshops, one-to-one support from Enterpreneurs-in-Residence, and access to competitive funding, you will gain the confidence and connections to build something real.
Start your journey
Your entrepreneurial journey, step by step
No matter where you are in your entrepreneurial journey, our pathway is designed to take you forward. Whether you're exploring your first idea, refining a concept, or preparing to scale, our three stages give you the skills, support, and opportunities to succeed.
Everyone begins with Ignite - the foundation stage where all entrepreneurs benefit from sharpening their ideas and building strong starting blocks. At the end of each stage, you will pitch your progress in a safe, supportive environment. Pitching not only determines whether you remain in your stage, progress to the next, or secure funding - it gives you invaluable practice in articulating your business clearly and confidently. Over time, pitching becomes second nature while embedding you more deeply into your venture.
Ignite
Explore and shape ideas into viable concepts. Ignite is where everyone starts, whether you are testing your first idea or already running a venture. Build confidence, experiment with entrepreneurial tools, and learn how to pitch clearly.
What to expect:
- Interactive workshops from concept to pitch
- Skills in idea generation, problem-solving, and opportunity mapping
- A chance to pitch for the Ignite Fund (awards of up to £800)
Accelerate
Refine and strengthen your business model. With targeted mentoring and practical workshops, Accelerate helps you to validate your ideas, understand your customers and put strong foundations in place for growth.
What to expect:
- Workshops on validation, customer insight, and planning
- Guidance from experienced entrepreneurs and startup specialists
- The opportunity to pitch for the Accelerate Fund (awards of up to £1,200)
Launch
Scale and prepare your venture for investment. Launch supports founders who are ready to grow. This intensive stage focuses on scaling operations, building a go-to-market strategy and preparing for funding.
What to expect:
- Advanced workshops on funding, scaling, and positioning
- Expert mentorship and pitch coaching
- Eligibility to apply for the Founderships Fund, (awards of up to £5,000)