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It has helped entrepreneurs take the next step in their careers and now the Edinburgh Business School (EBS) Incubator at Heriot-Watt University is back for another year!
Applications are now being accepted from early-stage entrepreneurs looking to access facilities and a suite of expert support and advice to advance their ideas.
The EBS Incubator provides specialist, one-to-one mentorship, free desk space as well as dedicated training and workshops to encourage, support and develop entrepreneurship.
The Incubator's aim is to create a diverse community of new-start firms and provide them with support that would help them take their business ideas and ambitions to the next stage
And against a backdrop of rising inflation, applicants will be pleased to learn that there are no costs involved. Their only financial obligation is to fund their own Public Liability insurance.
A space in the Incubator is for one year although there may be an option to extend.
Anyone can apply, providing they are not a full-time undergraduate or taught postgraduate.
Professor Laura Galloway is leading the Business Incubator at EBS. She says there has never been a more important time to encourage growth in the sector.
“The cost of living crisis and rising inflation has created a perfect storm among small and medium sized enterprises,” she said.
“To access the support needed to help drive forward these ventures, which are vitally important to the UK economy, means there has never been a more important time for dedicated schemes, such as our EBS Incubator, to be made available.”
Since its launch in 2018, the EBS Incubator has assisted more than 50 companies and played a pivotal role in helping participants access grants and other finance and refine their offerings.
Professor Galloway, adds: “The Incubator's aim is to create a diverse community of new-start firms and provide them with support that would help them take their business ideas and ambitions to the next stage.
“That's why today I am calling on all fledgling entrepreneurs who would benefit from the dedicated, tailored support, to get in touch.”
Among the current Incubees include the digital communications platform, Tecive, whose Director, Mael Abgrall, spoke of the benefits of the scheme, saying: “The incubator helped us reach the next stage for our start-up, greatly improved our focus and helped us take the steps to grow our business. Additionally this was a great opportunity to meet, work and get feedback from like-minded people.”
For further details or to apply visit the Edinburgh Business School website.
The deadline for applications is noon on Monday 13 June 2022. Applications will be considered by a committee who will decide which businesses are shortlisted to give a five-minute pitch explaining their business and how the incubator will benefit them.