Lift2

 

Tom Sutcliffe is an Events Management student at Leeds Metropolitan University, and is currently in the process of setting up a social enterprise, Lift2.

Lift2 is a social networking car share site creating greener, cheaper and friendly journeys for students. The website will cater to students that need to travel up and down the country, offering a place to find others going the same way. Website users can advertise the free space in their cars or look for space in somebody else’s car to share journeys, saving on cost, time and unnecessary emissions in a social, environmental and productive solution to the problems associated with student travel.

Tom received the Proof of Concept grant from Business Start Up in January 2009. The grant aims to help new businesses test the feasibility of their ideas with up to £1000 available. Tom used the money to fund a stand at Leeds Met as well as printing some flyers and acquiring some promotional materials to raise the awareness of his business among the Leeds Met students. Tom received further funding from UnLtd, a charity that aims to help social entrepreneurs. The level 1 award from UnLtd (between £500 & £5000, average £2000) is going to help Tom in taking the business forward. Tom says;

“The money from UnLtd will go towards my website, office space and associated start-up costs which will definitely give me some breathing space when I start trading in September”

Tom took advantage of the program of services that Business Start Up offer, attending numerous meeting with the business advisor, a number of events geared towards start ups, such as Enterprise Week’s Ben Keene and a February Networking Event with Deirdre Bounds and also attended the series of workshops that BSU host in an attempt to improve the business skills of the willing participants.

 Look out for the launch of Tom’s website, www.lift2.co.uk. It is possible to join a mailing list for notification of when he will start trading – follow the link.

For more information on UnLtd’s services, have a look at their website – www.unltd.org.uk.