Loughborough University has partnered with Charnwood Borough Council to launch a new accelerator programme designed to “help local people working on unique, early-stage products or services bring their vision to life”.

Established in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the business start-up accelerator aims to develop a new generation of businesses rooted in Loughborough.

It will equip early-stage business founders with the skills, knowledge, resources, and networks to rapidly test, validate, set up, and grow their businesses, with the aim of helping to replenish the local economy with new businesses post-pandemic.

The two-year programme is being delivered by LU Inc. (Loughborough University’s incubator) and is part-funded by £314,000 from a COVID-19 Recovery Fund created using Enterprise Zone Business Rates. Charnwood Borough Council is backing the programme, which was approved by the Leicester & Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership Limited (LLEP).

To be eligible to apply, you must meet one or more of the following criteria:

  • You are living, working or have recently been studying in the Leicester & Leicestershire area
  • You are entering the labour market, are out of work or in casual or temporary employment
  • You are a new business registered in Leicester & Leicestershire area and are within 12 months of setup and are working on a new product or service

Deadline is the 8th August.

To apply go to: https://www.lusep.co.uk/wayfinder

For more visit here.