Seat of commercial learning for university entreprenuers

A summer school with a difference saw budding entrepreneurs develop and pitch their business ideas to a panel of experts in Southampton.

Held at Ocean Village Innovation Centre (OVIC), the intensive two-day event involved 18 participants and culminated in Dragons’ Den-style presentations.

The University of Southampton students were on the Enterprise Summer School 2019, organised by the university’s Careers and Employability Service.

Ideas included a shopping app for cruise ship crew members visiting Southampton, which won, and a social enterprise selling nail varnish to raise money for victims of domestic abuse.

Stephen Deller, OVIC’s Centre Manager, said: “Start-ups are essential for economic wellbeing, with 14,224 registered in Hampshire alone last year.

“We’re home to 45 start-ups, early-stage companies and more established businesses, so participants were able to draw inspiration from the entrepreneurial spirit, knowledge and can-do mindset that defines the centre.

“There are significant challenges to running a new venture, not least cashflow, and the students, all impressive in their own right, were put through their paces in teams to ensure proof of concept and commercial viability.”Experts on the panel included OVIC’s business support specialist, Innovation Director Richard May, and Josh Mitchell, co-owner of digital marketing consultancy Mitchell & Stones.

Josh is behind the inaugural Hampshire Business Show on 10th October at the Ageas Bowl, near Southampton- the event is being sponsored by OVIC operator Oxford Innovation.
Networking followed the presentations, with students hearing first-hand insights from various centre occupiers about running businesses.

Jenny Whitaker is the Customer Services Advisor, Student Enterprise Team, Communications Lead, Social Impact Lab, Careers and Employability Service.

She said: “We’re grateful to OVIC for hosting Enterprise Summer School and providing invaluable tips and guidance from mentors.“In addition to developing some truly inspiring business ideas, participants developed their employability skills hugely - and did the university proud with their hard work and entrepreneurial spirit.”

Other Oxford Innovation centres in Hampshire are BASE Bordon Innovation Centre, Fareham Innovation Centre and Portsmouth Technopole.

Interested in joining the business community at OVIC? Call us on 023 8038 1920 or visit oceanvillage-ic.co.uk to find out more.