Liverpool moves to stop the ‘Brain drain’ by helping graduate start-up businesses
Graduate start-up businesses are to be offered specialist support and cash under a new sponsorship scheme – to stop the brain drain from the city.
Liverpool council is launching a new sponsorship scheme to help the brightest and the best graduates develop their ideas in starting a business through advice, support and training.
The deal with Liverpool John Moores University means 50 graduates with new business plans can be offered places on the university’s Enterprise Fellowship Programme.
It is part of the council’s plans to boost enterprise in the city, support small businesses, foster innovation and encourage graduates to stay in the city.
Graduates from any of the city’s universities will be able to apply for a grant of £1,500 once their business is started to help support its growth.
The focus will be on supporting the burgeoning creative, digital and knowledge-based start-ups that have the potential to grow and start employing people quickly. The programme aims to unlock the potential and support the visions of the brightest young entrepreneurs through intensive training, one-to-one business advice meetings, workshops and networking events.
The success of the programme will be measured by the number of businesses that progress to commercial incubation space within the region.
Liverpool John Moores University’s Enterprise Fellowship Programme has been running since 2004 but is now being relaunched with more of a hard-nosed business focus.
Earlier this year inward investment agency The Mersey Partnership warned of a brain drain from the city as many graduates find jobs in the public sector.
Given that the public sector is due to lose thousands of jobs in the coming years, graduates may be forced to leave the region.
Fostering new businesses is seen as vital to rebalancing the city region’s economy away from reliance on the public sector, and the expansion of the programme aims to address this.
Cllr Nick Small, cabinet member for employment and skills, said: “It’s absolutely vital to the city’s economic growth that we do all we can to develop, retain and embed our young business talent.
“Investment in entrepreneurship and increased support for business start-ups is vital, in the current economic climate, if we are serious about driving the economic development of the city.
“This sponsorship is about helping many more talented graduates take their first steps into the marketplace and giving them the power to make their dreams, ideas and visions a reality.
“I’m delighted we are forging this partnership with Liverpool John Moores University. It’s a great example of how we can work together to make Liverpool a world class business-friendly city which champions new ideas, innovation and enterprise.”
Emma Hunter, Head of Student Enterprise at Liverpool John Moores University said: “It’s important to us that we can help local graduates to realise their business potential, take the initiative and create their own opportunities: mirroring the LJMU ethos ofŠ dream, plan, achieve.”
“We’ll be working with Liverpool City Council and Liverpool Vision to make the most of their networks and we hope that this programme will create role models for younger people who aspire to a career in business.
“This is an exciting new phase for us, and we intend to build on this partnership and help make Liverpool the best place for gradates to start their business.”
The application process to join the programme opens this week: for more information, please call 0151 231 8060.
Graduate start-up businesses are to be offered specialist support and cash under a new sponsorship scheme – to stop the brain drain from the city.
Liverpool council is launching a new sponsorship scheme to help the brightest and the best graduates develop their ideas in starting a business through advice, support and training.
The deal with Liverpool John Moores University means 50 graduates with new business plans can be offered places on the university’s Enterprise Fellowship Programme.
It is part of the council’s plans to boost enterprise in the city, support small businesses, foster innovation and encourage graduates to stay in the city.
Graduates from any of the city’s universities will be able to apply for a grant of £1,500 once their business is started to help support its growth.
The focus will be on supporting the burgeoning creative, digital and knowledge-based start-ups that have the potential to grow and start employing people quickly. The programme aims to unlock the potential and support the visions of the brightest young entrepreneurs through intensive training, one-to-one business advice meetings, workshops and networking events.
The success of the programme will be measured by the number of businesses that progress to commercial incubation space within the region.
Liverpool John Moores University’s Enterprise Fellowship Programme has been running since 2004 but is now being relaunched with more of a hard-nosed business focus.
Earlier this year inward investment agency The Mersey Partnership warned of a brain drain from the city as many graduates find jobs in the public sector.
Given that the public sector is due to lose thousands of jobs in the coming years, graduates may be forced to leave the region.
Fostering new businesses is seen as vital to rebalancing the city region’s economy away from reliance on the public sector, and the expansion of the programme aims to address this.
Cllr Nick Small, cabinet member for employment and skills, said:
“It’s absolutely vital to the city’s economic growth that we do all we can to develop, retain and embed our young business talent. Investment in entrepreneurship and increased support for business start-ups is vital, in the current economic climate, if we are serious about driving the economic development of the city."
“This sponsorship is about helping many more talented graduates take their first steps into the marketplace and giving them the power to make their dreams, ideas and visions a reality.
“I’m delighted we are forging this partnership with Liverpool John Moores University. It’s a great example of how we can work together to make Liverpool a world class business-friendly city which champions new ideas, innovation and enterprise.”
Emma Hunter, Head of Student Enterprise at Liverpool John Moores University said:
“It’s important to us that we can help local graduates to realise their business potential, take the initiative and create their own opportunities: mirroring the LJMU ethos ofŠ dream, plan, achieve.”
“We’ll be working with Liverpool City Council and Liverpool Vision to make the most of their networks and we hope that this programme will create role models for younger people who aspire to a career in business.
“This is an exciting new phase for us, and we intend to build on this partnership and help make Liverpool the best place for gradates to start their business.”
The application process to join the programme opens this week: for more information, please call 0151 231 8060.
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