8 students and graduates from the University of Chester were successful in receiving funding and / or office space to start up their own businesses via the University of Chester’s ACCELERATE event.
John Farrell, Accounts Senior, from Ellis & Co has been working with the University over recent months to support the programme which offers budding entrepreneurs the opportunity to start their own businesses
ACCELERATE began in December 2013 at the Riverside Innovation Centre – which is the University’s innovation focused start up support facility. Students and graduates had the opportunity to attend 3 intensive events over recent months which were all aimed at helping them start up their own businesses.
John Farrell says:-
“I congratulate the entrepreneurs again for all their hard work and look forward to hearing how the various businesses are progressing.”
Ellis & Co and various other business and industry experts and business mentors, were invited to support the programme by sharing their knowledge and expertise to the potential new business starts.
John led a workshop covering tax, bookkeeping and accounts, giving advice on putting best practice in place in your business from a financial point of view.
Students and graduates also took advantage of other workshops on market research and strategy, networking, social media business sustainability, web site development, excellent customer service and funding.
The whole programme came to a climax one evening when all 16 participants delivered a 5 minute pitch clearly explaining their business model and idea.
8 businesses were successful in receiving either funding and or office space offered by The University of Chester
John Farrell was also a judge at this event along with other local businesses and commented:-
“I was very pleased to be asked to be on the judging panel for the final event of ACCELERATE, as I had worked closely with the students throughout the process. It was fantastic to hear the pitches from the participants, which were all of a very high quality, and it was obvious how much work had gone in to them. I congratulate the entrepreneurs again for all their hard work and look forward to hearing how the various businesses are progressing.”