University of Sunderland graduate scheme worth over £1.3m helps local entrepreneurs

The University of Sunderland has launched a new project worth more than £1.3m to help student and graduate entrepreneurs turn their business dreams into reality.

The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) scheme at the University’s Enterprise Place will expand on the many success stories from their previous projects that ran from 2015 until 2018.

The Enterprise Place acts as an environment for students, graduates and staff of the university to start their own business, bringing together entrepreneurs at all stages of their development.

It provides free hot-desking space, business advice, structured interactive workshops, up to £1,000 of funding as well as PR and networking opportunities.

Graduates like Robert Banerjee who, in August last year, co-founded Korp Talent, a recruitment agency working in the Swedish market.

Robert, who graduated with a degree in Criminology, set up office at the Enterprise Place after a friend told him about the hot-desking facilities on offer.

The 24-year-old said: “Because my work is based in Sweden, I was able to work from home to begin with, but after hearing about what the Enterprise Place can offer graduates, it seemed like the right opportunity.

“It gave me a chance to get out of the house and work in an office environment surrounded by other people.

“It also provided the opportunity to access some of the support services they offered, like the workshops and training they held in areas like marketing and branding. This type of help has been invaluable.

“We are hoping to take on new staff members this year and, by the end of the year, will be looking towards moving into our own offices.”

Amy Armstrong and Marie Donnelly were both studying an MA in Public Relations when they decided to turn their business dream into a reality.

Between their studies, the pair had been working with local DJs and cinemas when they decided to take the plunge.

“I suppose if we’d sat down for too long and thought about it, we might never have done it,” said Marie, from Gateshead.

The pair founded MAD Communications and, in 2013, moved into offices at the Enterprise Place.

Since then, the business has strengthened with the pair later relocating to St Peter’s Gate before moving into their current offices at Design Works, Gateshead.

Laura Foster, internships and enterprise manager at the University of Sunderland, said: “It’s fantastic to be able to help students and graduates like Robert, Amy and Marie realise their start up ambitions.

“To see them develop their businesses from concept to taking on their first employees through our subsidised Internship Scheme, is a huge privilege and we wish them every continued success.

“We are also pleased to be able to support SMEs in the region, through this funding, to recruit our graduate talent.”