Category: Entrepreneurship

Case Study: Senmag Robotics’s experience with IKEEP

Posted on by Careers Service

What is IKEEP? 

The IKEEP Programme consists of high-quality knowledge exchange opportunities, providing fresh perspectives and skills to enable regional businesses to grow while honing the talent of future graduates. 

Students involved will have participated in online training in a range of business areas such as managing innovation, business model development and project management. Student teams are ready to be placed within a company to develop business model solutions, improve market awareness and more! 

Senmag Robotics’s Experience with IKEEP 

Senmag Robotics took part in the IKEEP Programme this year. The student team, matched to this business, carried out market research to evaluate the most suitable markets and potential customers/early adopters for their product. They were also involved in the company’s website design, implementing improvements using HTML and CSS. 

Spyros Lavetiz, the CEO and Co-founder of Senmag Robotics

Senmag Robotics is a Bristol-based start-up and New Enterprise Competition finalist producing affordable haptic feedback technology, which allows a user to physically interact with computer simulations, making environments and objects in AR/VR feel solid. 

Spyros Lavetiz is the CEO and Co-founder of Senmag Robotics and has recently completed his final year of a master’s degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of Bristol. 

We spoke to Spyros to find out more about his experience with IKEEP…  

(more…)

Bristol PLUS Award – Get rewarded for your extra-curricular activities

Posted on by Careers Service

The Bristol PLUS Award

 

The Bristol PLUS Award rewards you for going above and beyond alongside your studies

Maybe you have a part-time job, are running your own small business, or are thinking of doing some volunteering or an internship. If so, you could already be partway there to achieving the Award! As long as your experience takes place during your time as a student, you could get recognition for it.

 

Third-year Music student Honey Wyatt achieved the Bristol PLUS Award after working in a café during the holidays, and also set up and ran her own podcast.

A photo of Honey smiling
Honey Wyatt, Music Student and Bristol PLUS Award Achiever                                                                                      

‘Through working as front of house at a restaurant and café, I developed my communication, teamwork, and resilience. You need to be able to handle high pressure situations, such as if there is a rude or impatient customer or you have to manage several tasks at once (and we were understaffed, so this happened often).

Along with that I learnt an element of independence, as I had to figure out how to deal with a situation if there is nobody there to ask for help.

Running my podcast has been a completely different experience, although I have also developed my teamwork, independence and communication skills, as well as my reliability and how to run a business. There are two aspects of the podcast: the creative side, and the business side, both of which I have had to develop different skills for.’

Honey used both of these experiences to achieve the Award, as well as completing a variety of workshops in employability skills:

‘I have learnt the importance of developing a variety of different skills no matter what I am doing, as these could be useful in applying for jobs in future.’

To get started with the Bristol PLUS Award, sign up now for an introductory talk. Enterprise, entrepreneurship and start-up support can be found at the Basecamp Enterprise Team .

 

(more…)

Become an INTRApreneur with IKEEP

Posted on by Careers Service

Would you like to develop your Intrapreneurial skills and gain invaluable experience working with entrepreneurs?

The IKEEP programme includes free online training in a range of business areas such as managing innovation, business model canvas and leadership strategies.

After you’ve completed the training, you can apply for a short project placement (a commitment of 70 hours per student, spread flexibly over 4 weeks). You will work remotely for a regional business as part of an interdisciplinary team of 3 students. Upon completion of a project placement, you will receive a stipend of £450.

Mansour Alshamsi, Year 1, BSc Marketing

We spoke to Mansour, a student who participated in our IKEEP training and industry placement to find out how his experience was in the IKEEP programme.  (more…)

The New Enterprise Competition round- up

Posted on by Careers Service

The New Enterprise Competition (NEC) drew to a close last month at our online celebration event where Peequal were crowned the winners of the Growth stage winning £15,000 in funding.  

The UK’s first women’s urinal showcased their first prototype at Bristol Comedy Gardens at the beginning of the month and following the news of their win, have been making headlines across the UK, gaining 60 million views of their business since winning the competition: 

Co-founder Hazel McShane said: ‘’Winning the competition has given us the opportunity to follow our dream for pee-equality. I want to give a massive shout out to the New Enterprise Competition and Basecamp team who have shown us support and encouragement from day one. The funding and recognition has lit the fire beneath PEEQUAL and we are now so excited to get our PEEQUAL urinals out there to free the pee.” (more…)

The Foundership scheme

Posted on by Careers Service

New for Summer 2021! The Foundership scheme is open to students and recent graduates who want to explore their start-up ideas. Formerly the Enternship scheme, the Basecamp Enterprise team have revamped the programme for this year, giving student entrepreneurs the opportunity to explore their options over Summer break. 

The four-week scheme equips founders with £1,000 funding, ringfenced networking and workshop opportunities, and allows you to work from the comfort of your own home. 

Sound like something you may be interested in? Here is what you can get out of the scheme this Summer:

Goal setting-

On submitting an application, we will ask you to set out what you would like to achieve over the four weeks. This could vary between wanting to undertake some research on your target market to building a prototype. Setting out what you intend to do will mean you can hold yourself accountable, it will motivate you to strive to succeed and will help you break down your overarching goals into tangible, achievable chunks. Successful applicants will submit a weekly report to Basecamp outlining what they achieved each week.  (more…)

It’s International Womens Day!

Posted on by Careers Service

Find out Today, the 8 March is International Women’s Day (IWD). The global annual celebration celebrates the social, economic and political achievements of women and simultaneously raises awareness on gender equality.

This week, there are lots of incentives and events taking place nationally and internationally which celebrate women overcoming challenges and creating an impact- however big or small- on today’s society. Although many are taking place today or over the next week, these events should act as a springboard for change over the next 12 months. This years theme is #Choosetochallenge . Here are some ways you can challenge yourselves this International Women’s Day.

Image by Gordon Johnson from Pixabay

Challenge diversity within business

(more…)

Reasons why you should apply to the New Enterprise Competition- Development stage

Posted on by Careers Service

The Development stage of the New Enterprise Competition (NEC) is open for applications until next Monday 1 March.

Considering applying for the chance of winning up to £1,000? Here are the top 4 reasons why you should take your ideas to the next level and submit an application:

Funding

The competition awards winners with up to £1,000 to go towards developing your start-up and the prize money can go towards anything. Whether it be developing a prototype, building a website, or purchasing tools and materials – whatever you need to take your ideas and turn them into a reality.

‘’The competition funding will allow our community workshop space to become a reality. We considered running a Crowdfunder, but funding from the NEC takes the pressure off and means that we have enough funds to purchase essential items that will be difficult to Crowdfund for.

We are excited that this funding will mean that all elements of our enterprise can start, and that we can start working towards developing products that can allow us to become financially self-sustaining.’’ – Precious Plastic Herzeele- 2020 winners

Develop your skills

(more…)

The New Enterprise Competition- Development stage

Posted on by Careers Service

The world of employment has changed significantly over the last 12 months due to the pandemic. What has felt like months of uncertainty over what the future holds, the prospect of diving into the deep– end and starting your own business might seem daunting.  

However, working for yourself and launching a start-up in 2021 can be a great opportunity. Particularly if your enterprise fills a gap in the market, is well researched and it is something you’re passionate about. 

The New Enterprise Competition – Development stage is now open for applications.  This stage of the competition awards up to £1,000 to 10 start-ups. Funds can be used towards developing student and graduate start-ups. Historically winners have ranged between social enterprises combating food waste, to sustainable clothing businesses and much more. 

We spoke to one of last year’s winners, Fix My Crack- which some of you may know by their previous name Brisfix, to find out what winning this stage in the competition meant to them and how they found the process.  (more…)

New Enterprise Competition- Development stage NOW OPEN!

Posted on by Careers Service

The New Enterprise Competition is run by the Basecamp Enterprise team and awards funding for businesses, social enterprises and charities. It comprises of three stages over the year; the second stage-Development awards start-ups with up to £1,000 to go towards pushing your business to the next level.   

Historically, funding has gone to start-ups who are building a prototype, developing a website and investing in materials and much more.

This year may seem uncertain but certainly comes with lots of possibilities, so why not take that business idea you had over the first lockdown to the next level?!  

Want to find out more? Over the next few weeks we’ll be catching up with last years Development winners.

Precious Plastic Dunkerque

Could you sum up your start-up in a Tweet? 

Precious Plastic Dunkerque is a Social Enterprise being developed to support displaced people in Dunkerque. Using plastic waste collected from informal camps, we will produce new items; to be sold, to support those sleeping rough and to provide community workshops. (more…)

It’s Global Entrepreneurship Week!

Posted on by Careers Service

This week, 16 to 20 November marks Global Entrepreneurship Week. The campaign began in 2008 with an emphasis on inspiring young people to make their mark. It has quickly grown into a week which inspires entrepreneurs, students, researchers and more to collaborate and advance economic growth and innovation.

The Basecamp Enterprise team are getting involved by offering a jam-packed week of events where industry experts share top tips, networking opportunities and the launch of Natwest 10k challenge.

Global Entrepreneurship Week

Although there are several events happening across the world this week which focus on business and entrepreneurship, the Basecamp Enterprise team run workshops, events and start-up support all year round to keep you feeling motivated and inspired.

(more…)