Business growth programme set to boost Yorkshire tech industry

A new business growth programme designed to support tech entrepreneurs is coming to South Yorkshire.

Transform SY will form part of the TEAM SY project – a joint initiative between Capital Enterprise and Barnsley Council.

Part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and in partnership with the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and UKSE, TEAM SY aims to accelerate the development and market-making of a regional tech ecosystem.

The Transform SY programme will run throughout 2022 and aims to support 60 businesses. The programme will be delivered by Entrepreneurial Spark, one of the first accelerators established in the United Kingdom back in 2012.

This will be Entrepreneurial Spark’s 22nd accelerator, and their first opportunity for entrepreneurs in South Yorkshire. Transform SY will open for applications on 8th November and recruit a first cohort of 20 entrepreneurs.

Founders that join the programme will be immersed in an intensive 6-month experience, using techniques honed from 40,000 hours of deep interaction with entrepreneurs globally. The accelerator is free of charge and no equity will be taken, to remove any financial barriers to participation.

Commenting on the launch, Mike Stephens (CEO of Entrepreneurial Spark) said: “South Yorkshire has been my home for many years, so I am delighted to be able to bring Entrepreneurial Spark to the region.

Having worked with SMEs here for over ten years I have met some fantastic entrepreneurs, and this is a great opportunity to unearth more of them from communities throughout South Yorkshire.

Entrepreneurs have a massive role to play in generating an inclusive economic recovery from the pandemic and mobilising them here has the potential to deliver this across the whole region.“

Darren Balcombe, deputy CEO of Capital Enterprise, said:’“We are very excited to see Transform SY be announced. We want to see South Yorkshire’s startup founders gain access to a programme that develops entrepreneurial leadership, whilst developing businesses and a lasting community.