Unique Business Development Opportunity

Calling all new and established entrepreneurs!

Epiphany

The Leeds Enterprise Network, which brings together expertise from business start-up services based at Leeds University (Spark), Business Start-Up and QU2 at Leeds Metropolitan University and the Unit at Leeds City College, is holding a second networking event.

The evening will include a guest speaker, Carl Hopkins (pictured above), who is best known for his appearance on Channel 4’s The Secret Millionaire. Carl is also one of Yorkshire’s leading entrepreneurs and marketing ‘gurus'. In 2007 Carl sold his marketing company JDA for millions and instead of ‘retiring' he set up kloog, a business development service. In addition to launching kloog, Carl regularly speaks at various high profile business events and has invested in a variety of Yorkshire businesses.

The event is due to take place on Thursday 25th February 2010 at the Unit, Leeds City College, 5.30pm – 7.30pm. As well as the opportunity to network and be inspired by guest speakers, the event offers a complimentary buffet and is free of charge.

If you would like to register your attendance for the event or require further information, please contact frances.parkinson@leedscitycollege.ac.uk or call 0113 216 2252.

 

Business Concept Winners

SkillPods Ltd have been announced as winners of the 2010 BCC competition

Epiphany

SkillPods Ltd a new business start up, jointly owned by Leeds Met graduates Danny Gazit and Michael Alexander, won the £2000 prize money on offer in the 2010 Leeds Met Business Concept Competition.

Danny and Michael were awarded the prize ahead of stiff competition from four other finalists. Applicants had to submit a 1500 word application form and then pitch their idea to a panel of judges.

SkillPods Ltd will offer a video coaching pod cast service that allows people to gain professional information about specific coaching techniques with the click of a button.

Unlike its competitors, SkillPods Ltd offer the customer the chance to download high quality, professional and affordable sports coaching videos onto any portable media service of their choice. The diversity of the sports available to the customer as well as the quality assurance they get from knowing that the coach they are following is an expert in their required field provides SkillPods with a unique selling point.

SkillPods Ltd has accessed the support of Business Start Up, working with their dedicated Business Advisor to develop their business idea. Business Start Up provides support, training and practical advice to students and graduates of Leeds Met who are looking to start up in business.

The awards ceremony for the competition took place on Monday 1st February at the Flying Start – Make it Happen event at Bodington Hall, Leeds. SkillPods Ltd, along with two other finalists were presented with their trophies, and shared the experiences of their entrepreneurial journey’s to date.

SkillPods Ltd. are now preparing to represent Leeds Met in the Regional Enterprise Awards, which are due to take place at Venturefest on Wednesday 10th February at York Racecourse. The award recognises the entrepreneurial talent being fostered in the region’s Higher Education Institutions and rewards the winning business with £5000 cash prize and £5000 in-kind marketing expertise, which this year is generously donated by Brighter Marketing. We are hoping SkillPods Ltd will once again impress the judges, and wish them all the best in the forthcoming event.

Leeds Enterprise Network

Leeds Enterprise Network gets off to a flying start!

Epiphany

The inaugural event run by the newly formed Leeds Enterprise Network which took place on the evening of Thursday 22nd October 2009 proved to be both exciting and innovative and an invaluable networking opportunity for young entrepreneurs from across the city. The Leeds Enterprise network brings together expertise from business start-up services based at Leeds University (Spark) QU2 at Leeds Metropolitan University and the Unit at Leeds City College, all of whom play an important role in supporting the growth of early stage businesses in Leeds. The event offered the chance for new and fledgling businesses born of the above initiatives to showcase innovative products and services and represented an important business development opportunity for all who attended.

The Guest Speaker for the evening was Robin Skidmore of Epiphany Solutions Ltd. Robin set up his business four years ago with the support of Leeds Metropolitan University and the QU2 Incubator. Despite the recent recession Robin has seen his web optimisation business go from strength to strength. Leeds-based Epiphany Solutions is the UK’s fastest growing search marketing agency and this year, the company aims to turnover £2 million. Epiphany have recently recruited some major new clients, including self-help guru and entrepreneur Deidre Bounds and cosmetic surgery clinics “Make Yourself Amazing”.

Other businesses exhibiting ranged from a business providing money saving vouchers for restaurants and bars (GopherDeals.co.uk) to Shell LiveWIRE finalists Think Pacific who organise gap year trips to Fiji, to cutting edge communications technology businesses such as Innovations in Technology Ltd who specialise in supplying NHS medical practices with the latest audio visual and Information Technology solutions.

Look out for the next Leeds Enterprise Network event at Leeds City College on 25th February 2010.

 


Strictly Come Business Success

Leeds fruit and veg king wins business title

Holbeck Foods Ltd, a social enterprise, supplying locally sourced fresh food and vegetables, run by Leeds Met graduate Lee Griffiths, was declared winner of Strictly Come Business at the Grand Final held in the Ghandi Hall on Friday 5th June 2009.

Lee, who achieved a HND in Business Management in and gained further enterprise support from Business Start-Up, acknowledged how proud he was to have received his award back at the University.

 

 

Business Start-up client wins UnLtd Award

Tom Sutcliffe is a Business Start-Up client that is currently in the process of starting his social enterprise, Lift2. He has recently received some funding in the form of the UnLtd award in conjunction with the Sharing the Success – the Leeds Local Enterprise Growth Initiative (LEGI) – a programme created using Government funding to help regenerate some areas within Leeds.

More details here ...

Entrepreneur Networking at OBH
Wednesday 25th February












Guest speaker: Deidre Bounds

Students and industry professionals from across Yorkshire visited Old Broadcasting House on February 25th for an Entrepreneurs networking session. New and potential start-ups were given the chance to meet like-minded people along with professionals that can help to guide them through the difficult process of starting and maintaining a new business.

More details here ...

 

 

Business Start-up clients win Regional Enterprise Award
Thursday 12th February

The Business Concept Competition from Business Start Up came to a close on Tuesday the 27th of January, with unibookclub.com winning over the judges on the way to a £2000 prize. The annual competition gives students and graduates the chance to win a cash prize to help develop their business idea.

More details here ....