Since its creation in October 2013, Virgin StartUp, a not-for-profit company backed by Sir Richard Branson, has offered financial support, mentoring and business advice to over 200 aspiring entrepreneurs. Virgin StartUp provides start-up loans of £500-£25,000, backed up with one-on-one mentoring, advice, resources and opportunities to work with companies across the Virgin Group.
The Virgin StartUp Live tour will travel across the country over the coming months and will arrive in Cambridge at Lord Ashcroft International Business School, Anglia Ruskin University on Thursday 4th September, 5:30-8pm.
Virgin StartUp will provide practical start-up guidance, networking opportunities and inspiration. At each event, experts will be on hand to guide would-be applicants through the Virgin StartUp application process. Attendees will also gain insight from local start-ups already doing it for themselves, plus receive advice from notable business leaders, who are all lending their support, for free, to support the next generation of British entrepreneurs.
In Cambridge, Julie Deane, founder of The Cambridge Satchel Company and Sophie Frost, founder of Yucoco will be on hand to offer their expertise and share their start-up stories. Business advisors from NWES will also be on hand to offer focused advice and will work with applicants after the event to develop their funding applications and ideas into fully fledged businesses.
Commenting on the launch of Virgin StartUp Live, Sir Richard Branson said: “We’ve been thrilled at how well the last set of events went down and I hope the Virgin StartUp Live Tour proves to be just as big a hit. The speaker line-up looks fantastic - it’s great to see such strong support from these high profile business men and women who are taking time out to help foster the next generation of exciting entrepreneurs. There are so many incredible people out there who are ready to create exciting new businesses and we’re very much looking forward to finding them!”
To find out more and sign up to any of the Virgin StartUp Live events, please visit:
http://www.virginstartup.org
https://www.facebook.com/virginstartup
https:/www.twitter.com/virginstartup
About Virgin Group: Virgin is a leading international investment group and one of the world's most recognised and respected brands. Conceived in 1970 by Sir Richard Branson, the Virgin Group has gone on to grow successful businesses in sectors ranging from mobile telephony, travel, financial services, leisure, music, holidays and health & wellness. Virgin employs more than 65,000 people, operating in over 50 countries. Global branded revenues of £15bn ($24bn) in 2012.
About Virgin StartUp: Launched in October 2013 by Sir Richard Branson, Virgin StartUp is a not-for-profit organisation that helps entrepreneurs over the age of 18 in England with the funding, resources and advice they’ll need to make their business idea a reality.
About NWES, Virgin StartUp’s East of England Delivery Partner: Established in 1982, NWES is the UK’s largest Enterprise Agency working in partnership to provide total business support, boost self-employment and encourage entrepreneurial skills throughout the East of England.
NWES offers 1-to-1 business advice, a range of business and personal skills training courses, access to finance and serviced business premises for those wishing to start and grow a business.
To learn more about NWES, please visit www.nwes.org.uk
About The Start Up Loans Company: The Start Up Loans Company is a government-funded initiative that provides start-up support in the form of a repayable loan together with a business mentor for entrepreneurs across England and Northern Ireland.
It is designed to help young people who have a feasible business idea but no access to mainstream finance. With a view to providing the robust SME sector of tomorrow, Start Up Loans aims to equip enterprising individuals with the tools needed to make their businesses a success.
About Julie Deane, founder of The Cambridge Satchel Company: Julie Deane is a graduate and former Fellow of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge – serving on the College Council as Registrary, the first female to be appointed to this role in the 650 year history of the college. Julie qualified as an ACA with Deloitte, working in the UK and USA.
Julie founded The Cambridge Satchel Company with her mother Freda Thomas in 2008 at her kitchen table just outside Cambridge. Investing just £600 to get the idea off the ground The Cambridge Satchel Company is now a pioneering enterprise employing more than 120 people and experiencing phenomenally fast growth around the world. Julie is committed to preserving British manufacturing and is proud be employing many locally skilled craftsmen in her own Leicester based workshop whilst also supporting independent UK craftsmen who help meet the ever growing demand.
In August 2012 Julie was profiled by Google as the face of a new Google Chrome advert, which to date has received more than 6 million You Tube views.
About Yucoco:
[Yucoco received a £10,000 start up loan from Virgin StartUp in January 2014) http://www.virginstartup.org/case-study/virgin-startup-yucoco/
Many years ago there were three chocoholics who had tried and tasted every chocolate bar in Britain. No longer excited by the bars they could buy in their corner shop, they dreamt of one day being able to design their own perfect chocolate creation.
The dreams of these three chocoholics came true when Yucoco Towers was formed. Searching the land far and wide, we have found the most delicious toppings for our bars. You can choose from chocolate covered popping candy (our favourite) to wasabi peas and 23 carat gold! We also flew to Belgium and brought back the tastiest chocolate to make our bars with here in the heart of Britain. Wanting the best for our Yucocoers we have made sure our cocoa beans are ethically sourced and 100% sustainably cultivated.
Every single one of our bars is handmade by a skilled chocolatier and many of our terrific toppings are made in our kitchen as well, we recommend the cinder toffee!
We are now busy in our kitchen tasting new toppings and planning our next exciting new product. If you have any favourite flavours that you think we are missing, drop us a line at [email protected].
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