• What is SPEED?
• Is SPEED for me?
• Benefits
• What will you gain from it?
• Case studies
• Eligibility
• Applying

What is SPEED?

The SPEED programme offers a 9 month placement to students who are budding entrepreneurs. SPEED is designed to help students with a sound business idea take the steps towards running a real business.  The objective is to provide students with a learning opportunity intended to ultimately develop business ideas into successful businesses running for a minimum of 18 months.

The SPEED programme is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).  The University of Birmingham, one of eight partners nationally has been awarded 54 placements to allocate in the academic years 2009 - 2010 and 2010-2011.

SPEED is led by Wolverhampton and has seven primary partner universities taking part. In addition to Wolverhampton the partners comprise: University of Birmingham, Coventry University, Staffordshire University, Keele University, Birmingham City University, University of Worcester and Aston University.

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Is SPEED for me?

• Have you got a business idea or maybe you have set one up already?
• Would you like some practical support and training in further developing this idea into a real working business?
• Want to gain access to a network of professional experts?
• Want to network with other entrepreneurs and businesses?
• Are you a current student of the University of Birmingham?
• Would you like a package of £2500 to help kick-start your business idea?

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Benefits

Overall support package worth £6000:

• Finance of £2500
• Access to office space for working and meetings
• Professional mentoring to further your business idea
• Business startup training to further your own business skills
• Networking to introduce you and your business to others
• Continuous support through coaching

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What will you gain from it?

• Access to key business workshops and seminars
• Build your business idea into a real working and flourishing business
• Develop enterprising skills
• Meet new people from your industry
• Most importantly become an entrepreneur
• Looks great on your CV

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Case studies

Here are just a few of our successful past SPEED students:

• Joycelyn Oyibo and Rachael Twamusi - Afrocenchix (PDF, 558KB, opens new window)

• Timothy Stillwell - Nopales (PDF, 372KB, opens new window)

• Will Keir and Josh Walter - Mystudentbills.com (PDF, 185KB, opens new window)

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Eligibility

• You must be a current student or a graduate of the University of Birmingham.
• You must be a citizen from the European Union (EU). 
• You must be willing to set up a registered private limited company and run for 18 months (In certain circumstances a sole trader option may be acceptable).

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Applying

The SPEED WM project has now finished.

If you are interested in applying to our business start up programme, please visit our BSEEN programme page and apply there. We are currently taking applications.

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