Entrepreneurs bring business plans to life with Teesside University accelerator

A fashion brand, marketing business and boxing community interest company are among businesses which Teesside University has helped to launch this year.

This week is Global Entrepreneurship Week (November 14 to 20) and Teesside University has reaffirmed its committed to “developing an entrepreneurial culture and developing the skills, behaviours, and confidence to fuel enterprise”.

The University’s seven-week FUEL programme helps aspiring entrepreneurs bring their innovative business ideas to fruition by offering expert mentoring, business-building workshops and training sessions.

The programme culminates in a pitch, wherein participants have the opportunity to compete for a share of £30k funding to kickstart their businesses. This year’s winners of the FUEL programme include:

• DEY Studios
• The School of Illustration
• Knock Out Depression
• Proper Mint Marketing Ltd
• Candy Castle Animation
• Movie Night Ltd
• Smoggy Pictures Ltd.

Among the winners was Emily Dey, a successful Teesside University fashion graduate who, since completing her studies in 2020, has embarked on a “prestigious” Modern Artisan project and jointly created a luxury fashion collection inspired by King Charles’ Highgrove Gardens.

The 24-year-old from Middlesbrough has gone on to set up her own fashion design brand, which she launched through the University’s FUEL programme.

Emily commented: “DEY Studios is an independent, British slow fashion brand, designed and founded by me, with the aim of reducing throwaway, fast fashion and creating timeless, luxury garments that will last in your wardrobe forever.

“The FUEL programme has been imperative to helping me launch DEY Studios. I didn’t have much experience at all around how running a business works and so the programme has allowed me to speak to so many knowledgeable people and learn vital lessons that I otherwise wouldn’t have thought about.

Steve Dougan, head of Enterprise at Teesside University, added: “When it comes to business, Teesside University has its finger on the pulse, and is ideally placed to help aspiring entrepreneurs to achieve their potential.

“We have long been committed to fostering an entrepreneurial culture, and we are proud to empower individuals to develop the skills needed to fuel enterprise and build successful businesses through our FUEL programme.”

The next FUEL cohort will be recruited in May 2023 and begin their training the following August, gaining the opportunity to bring their business plans to life with the help of Teesside University.

By Matthew Neville – Correspondent, Bdaily

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