Be your own boss
Get ahead with our support
From nurturing ideas and start-ups to growing SMEs, we have every step covered.
In this section, find out about how to:
- Get Inspired - Entrepreneurial events
- Get Started - Learn about starting a business
- Get funding/sponsorship - Start a business
- Get Growing - Grow your business
Find out how the enterprise team can support you
Get Inspired - Entrepreneurial events
Events
Events are designed to help inspire you, meet like-minded individuals and come up with that million pound idea.
Hackathons
Hackathons are a great way to develop a broad range of skills, establish new networks and inspire innovative ideas.
During a typical UEL Hack, you will work in groups with students from across the institution to solve a problem.
You will be taken through a number of fun activities to help you come up with creative solutions and quickly move on to prototyping and testing your idea before concluding with a live pitch.
Venture Crawl
Over the course of 12 hours, six iconic Routemaster buses drive students from multiple London universities to some of the capital’s top innovation hubs and workspaces to experience London’s start-up ecosystem first-hand and meet top entrepreneurial leaders.
Entrepreneurial talks
Need some inspiration or advice? We host a number talks where you can get advice from a wide range of entrepreneurs who are trailblazing with their own businesses.
Get Started - Learn about starting a business
Want to learn the fundamentals behind starting and running a successful start-up business?
Our programme of easy to digest workshops will cover everything you need to know to get you up and running.
1-2-1s
Book an appointment to see one of our dedicated advisors to discuss your business idea in more detail.
We will work with you to come up with a tailored action plan to help you identify the next steps for you and your business.
Start-Up school
At our Start-Up series of workshops we will help you learn all the fundamentals of business start-up.
On completion of the programme you should have the first draft of your business plan and a better understanding of where you would like to take things next!
UEL's Freelance Marketplace
We will have a series of mini master classes running across the day to help you get started as a freelancer, covering how to develop your portfolio, and set yourself up as an independent freelancer on East London Talent, our local freelance marketplace.
Get funding - Start a business
Start-Up
At our Start-Up series of workshops we will help you learn all the fundamentals of business start-up. On completion of the programme you should have the first draft of your business plan and a better understanding of where you would like to take things next!
No experience necessary.
Start-Up Sprint
Start-Up Sprint will take you from idea to incorporation in 6 hours!
This programme is ideal for those of you who have a fairly developed idea or are looking to turn your skills into money and start freelancing/gigging whilst you are studying or straight after university. If successful, you will be enrolled onto a programme of six tailored one-to-one mentoring sessions which will help you build your business and develop and implement your plans.
Get Growing - Grow your business
BYOB (Bring your own business)
Already running a business? We can help ease the pain of balancing business and studies. Whether you need office space on campus, or a small growth grant, we have your back.
In partnership with the Haberdashers' Livery Company, Bring Your Own Business (BYOB) is for students and alumni who already have an established business.
The programme is an opportunity to take a step back and health check your business and create, develop and commit to a plan for growth.
Selected businesses will receive:
- £2,000 Equity-Free Growth Funding
- Funded Student Intern Placement for your Business
- Six Months Coaching and Support Package
- Access to the Haberdashers' Scholars Network