Graduate Entrepreneur Scheme 2017/18 Information Pack and Application Form Student Enterprise at LSBU
What is LSBU s Graduate Entrepreneur Scheme (GES)? This is a unique opportunity for you to establish, build and grow your business. The programme runs for 12 months from the end of Sept 2017 to Sept 2018 You will take part in workshops and talks and gain access to networks and potential mentors. You ll work with GES alumni, our Entrepreneurs in Residence and legal and intellectual property specialists. You will have access to a desk in our GES hub in the Clarence Centre at LSBU during the programme. You will also have access to a loan to help you start and grow your business. Who can apply? LSBU graduates with a business idea that has been validated, and/or LSBU graduates in the early stages of running a business. We are looking for innovative, motivated and committed graduates, who have the ambition to create and grow a business. We understand that you maybe working part-time alongside starting your business, but we expect graduates to be using the office space for a minimum of 3 days a week. You can apply as single or co-founders; we welcome applications from teams (only one applicant needs to be an LSBU graduate). You must have graduated from LSBU within the last 5 years and cannot apply if you have previously taken part in LSBU Rocket, FFWD or GES. The Graduate Entrepreneur Scheme is not open to International graduates. If you are an international graduate with a business idea, please contact international.advice@lsbu.ac.uk to complete a Checklist to confirm if you are eligible to apply for LSBU s International Graduate Entrepreneur Scheme. How to apply: Enclosed within this information pack is the initial application form that must be returned to the LSBU Student Enterprise team by 9am on Monday 4th September 2017 applications should be emailed to studententerprise@lsbu.ac.uk. If you are completing the form online using Survey Monkey this must be submitted by the same date (9am on Monday 4th September 2017). Selection Process and Key dates: The first stage of the process is to complete the enclosed or online application form (please do not write more than the specified word count). From the application forms, we will shortlist the strongest applications and invite you to attend a one day Assessment Centre, where you will pitch your business idea, participate in group activities and have an interview. The successful businesses will then be notified and invited to join GES for a 2 day induction. Activity: Applications close Assessment centre: pitch, group task, interview Successful candidates notified Graduate Entrepreneur Scheme (GES) starts Dates: Monday 4th September at 9am Wednesday 13th September (if shortlisted, you will be notified of the time you need to attend) Monday 18th September (by 5pm) There will be a 1 day induction for all successful participants the week commencing Monday 25th Sept 2017 (date will be confirmed nearer the time)
Application form Please complete all sections Are you applying as: Single founder Team Your details: First name: Surname: Address: Email: Telephone: Student number: Course you studied: Year you graduated: What is your role within the business? Provide a short bio of yourself (50 words max) and a link to your LinkedIn profile If applying as a team, please include team details below: First name: Surname: Address Email: Telephone: Student number:* What is their role within the team? Provide a short bio of yourself and a link to your LinkedIn profile (50 words max) *if an LSBU graduate
First name: Surname: Address Email: Telephone: Student number:* What is their role within the team? Provide a short bio of yourself and a link to your LinkedIn profile (50 words max) *if an LSBU graduate If you are applying as a team how many team members are there in total? If you are applying as a team/co-founders how did you meet? Have you or your co-founders had any previous start-up experience? Yes No If yes briefly describe this: Are you working full time on your start up? Yes No Will any of your team be international graduates? Yes No If your company has a name what is it? If you have already incorporated your company with Companies House what is your Company Registration Number? If you are already trading, how long have you been trading for? Describe your business (150 words max)
What is new/different/interesting about your business? Describe your target customer (150 words max) Tell us what market research have you completed to test your idea? (150 words max) e.g. surveys, focus groups, sampling sessions, conversations, include any outcomes from this research Do you think that there is Intellectual Property in the idea/business? E.g copyright, design, trademark, patent (100 words max) How do you/are you going to make money? (150 words max)
Who are your competitors? Include URLs, what makes your business different from them? What milestones would you like to achieve whilst you are on GES? (200 words max) Time frame Milestone you would like to achieve Oct Dec 2017 Jan March 2018 April June 2018 July Sept 2018 Why do you want a place on the scheme? (200 words max)
If you are applying as a single founder, what team will you need to build to make the business happen? (100 words max) The programme will require you to work on your business for a minimum of 3 days a week. Any loan borrowed from LSBU cannot be spent on your living expenses. How do you intend to sustain yourself during your time on GES? Have you completed or attended any of the following? LSBU Student Enterprise talks and events Undertaken an Internship LSBU Spark programme Other, please detail below:
Please give details of an LSBU Academic staff member who we can speak to about your interest in applying for GES: Name: Title: Email adress: By submitting this application, I confirm that: This idea/business is my own idea If my application is successful, I can attend the Assessment Day on 13th September If I am successful in gaining a place on GES, I can confirm that I can attend the one day induction the week of the 25th Sept 2017 (date to be confirmed) Print name: Signature: Date: Please complete these monitoring questions: Personal information is collected in compliance with the Data Protection Act 1998. Personal information will be held securely and not passed on to others, unless you have given your consent or requested by law. Male Female Do you have a disability? Yes No Prefer not to say We ask this question to help ensure that we support applicants through the GES recruitment process and when they are on the scheme. If yes, please provide details of the nature of the disability: How did you hear about the Graduate Entrepreneur Scheme (GES)? Through my lecturer/course MyLSBU or social media Directly from the Student Enterprise Team Word of mouth, from friends etc Other (please specify) Return completed forms by 9am on Monday 4th September 2017 to studententerprise@lsbu.ac.uk Or post to F.A.O. Student Enterprise Team, London South Bank University, Clarence Centre for Enterprise & Innovation, 6 St George s Circus, London SE1 6FE