Kent Enterprise Hub
Overview of Activities
Stephanie Barwick
Business Engagement Manager
31st October 2012
Background
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SEEDA Hub until end of 2009
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In 2010, change into a fully funded University of Kent facility
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Students, graduates, staff
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Student enterprise activities
Achievements since Jan 2010
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45 student / graduate / staff companies created (97 members of staff,
impact on local economy of approx. £3 million)
Over 300 business advice sessions held
Over 200 drop-in sessions held
12 Kent Enterprise Hub Grants awarded and 4 Business Mentor
prizes (£28,000)
4 Hub companies received private capital investment funding (approx.
£300k)
4 Hub companies relocated to Canterbury Innovation Centre
1 Hub company (Geneform Technologies) sold at £6million
1 Hub company (OTI) taken over by Scottish firm, OPTOS
Network of Hub Mentors established
KEH is delivering the largest two business modules for KBS (CB612
‘Business Planning module’ and CB613 ‘Entrepreneurship’)
Details of Hub companies
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50 Hub companies
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20 IT companies
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Others – covers all sectors
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Total number of employees: over 100
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Kent Enterprise Hub Impact on economy: £3.5million
(based on NCGE impact report April 2010)
Underpinning activities
 Student Enterprise
 Employability Skills Development
 Academic Engagement
Student Enterprise Activities
Since Jan 2010
 32 Networking events held – over 2000 student attendances
 13 Student Competitions – 300 students taking part
 6 Enterprise Courses – 75 students attended
 80 student events run in The Bulb, Canterbury Innovation Centre
 New student enterprise society established – SIFE (‘Students in
Free Enterprise’) which is part of a global brand
Employability Skills Development
 Student Innovation Zone – working with academic schools to
promote extra curricular activities
 Employability Points scheme established – over 2,000 students
and 86 employers engaged in 2011/12, over 350 students were
awarded a prize
 EP scheme showcased by BIS as a best university-busienss
collaboration and EP scheme shortlisted in the Times Higher
Education Awards 2012
 Working with Unit for Learning Enhancement & Teaching to
promote reflective development for students to enhance life skills /
employability skills via e-PDP ‘MyFolio’
Academic Engagement
 Academic Mentor Scheme established to fund early stage ideas
development – 6 projects
 CB612, CB613
 School of Psychology – Lean Start-up workshops launched
 School of Psychology – creation of a new wild entrepreneurship
module
 EU Interreg IV Seas funding received ‘FUSION’
 Winners of the Barbara Morris Prize of the University of Kent
2011 – outstanding achievement in student support
Crossroads
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Increased tuition fees in HE – students / clients expecting more for
their money
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Increased emphasis on student experience and student employability
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Government push on private sector job creation
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83 graduate applicants for one job – more and more graduates will
consider setting up their own businesses in the future
Emphasis on innovation & high growth potential of start-ups
Let’s build on the success of the Kent Enterprise Hub and maximise
its impact
Interesting statistics
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60% of entrepreneurs who have set up a business that has closed
down are likely to set up another business in the future
77% of businesses survive after 2 years if founded by graduate(s)
Since 2008 there has been a 46% jump in students considering selfemployed
It is predicted that 32% of all UK students will be setting up a business
at some point in their lives post university
28% of highly successful entrepreneurs attribute their success to
setting up numerous businesses throughout their teenage/young adult
years.