Kairen Skelley

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Spark University of Leeds Careers Centre

• Kairen Skelley
• Business Adviser at Spark -Business Start-up
  at the Careers Centre, University of Leeds.

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Spark University of Leeds Careers Centre

• What is Spark?
• Spark is a business start up service from the
  Careers Centre
• Funded mainly by Higher Education Innovation Fund
  (4) with additional funding from Yorkshire
  Forward
• Aims
• To raise awareness of entrepreneurship and
  provide practical support services to students
  and graduates who are considering self-employment
  as a future career
• To teach students enterprising/business skills
  which will allow them to develop their business
  idea
• To promote the external business support within
  the West Yorkshire region and to encourage
  networking

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Spark University of Leeds Careers Centre

• Who is this for?
• Our services are available to current students
  and recent graduates (in the last 5 years) of the
  University of Leeds who are planning to start a
  business
• Our support package is aimed at providing advice,
  signposting through each stage of the start up
  process from idea generation through to business
  planning and eventually setting up your own
  business.

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Spark University of Leeds Careers Centre

• Conveyor belt of activity
• Pre-Start Advice including workshops on a variety
  of subjects
• Advice and support from business mentors
• Ongoing access to business advice from Spark
  business mentors to start-up businesses

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Spark University of Leeds Careers Centre

• Why At The University?
• It is seen as a career option
• Research has shown that students expect help from
  their individual institution
• The offer is consistent
• We can offer intensive help and advice
• We are not target driven
• We capture them from a very early stage

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Spark University of Leeds Careers Centre

• What is on offer?
• Proof of Concept Fund
• Workshops
• Membership Of Leeds Chamber Of Commerce
• Virtual Business Address
• Enterprise Scholarships supported by Leeds
  University alumni
• Annual Institutional Business Plan Competition
  leading onto regional finals
• Entrepreneurial Boot Camp (regional activity)

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Spark University of Leeds Careers Centre

• Any Questions?