New £20,000 growth grants available to graduate entrepreneurs
Graduates from a unique postgraduate degree course will now have the opportunity to pitch for grants of £20,000 to help grow their businesses.
Staffordshire University launched the Peter Coates MSc in Entrepreneurship last year in a bid to put Stoke-on-Trent on the map as a leading city for innovation and wealth creation.
The new MSc in Entrepreneurship has been made possible thanks to a collaboration with the City’s philanthropist Peter Coates and the Peter Coates Foundation and over 30 students are currently enrolled on the course.
The one-year programme offers emerging entrepreneurs the skills, funding and support they need to start new businesses in Stoke-on-Trent and the opportunity to pitch for up to £200,000 of venture capital investment.
The Trustees of the Peter Coates Foundation have also recently added the alternative opportunity to pitch for a £20,000 growth grant – designed to support smaller businesses as they start to scale up. Successful individuals and teams will also get the opportunity of mentoring and start up support as part of the Peter Coates Fast Forward Programme.
Staffordshire University Vice-Chancellor Professor Martin Jones said: “The first cohort are now fully immersed in their course which is designed by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs. The opportunity of £20,000 growth grants to support business start ups is potentially life changing for our graduates and will undoubtedly encourage more people to apply.
“Students on the course benefit from excellent teaching and facilities including a dedicated start-up space as well as access to cutting edge technologies which make up the University’s Innovation Enterprise Zone and Smart Zone.”
“We are incredibly excited to see what new businesses emerge from the course as we want to create a dynamic enterprise cluster which brings new jobs and wealth creation to our city and region.”
In addition to investment opportunities, The Peter Coates Foundation is providing full bursaries for applicants who met the criteria and can demonstrate that they have the drive and ambition to succeed.
The start date for the next student cohort is 25 September 2023 and anyone interested in finding out more can book onto an online Q&A on Thursday 20 July or Tuesday 15 August from 6pm until 8pm.
Maria Scrivens
Communications Manager
t: 01782 294375
m: 07766 520339
e: m.c.scrivens@staffs.ac.uk
Staffordshire University’s ambition is to become the UK’s best modern university. An institution with a strong civic mission, it has committed to being a ‘catalyst for change’ for students and businesses, positively impacting wider society and the regional economy.
Staffordshire University was named a Top 5 university in the UK and ranked Top 10 for job prospects in the StudentCrowd University Awards 2022 – based entirely on student reviews. It also ranked Top 10 for Social Inclusion in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023.
The 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF) classed 68% of the University’s research as world leading or internationally excellent and 87% of its ‘research impact’ was judged to be outstanding or very outstanding.
Substantial investment in innovative technologies and teaching environments ensure next generation courses and education are delivered across all three campuses in Stoke-on-Trent, Stafford and London.
