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Graduate Business Start-up Support

…Do you have a great business idea?

Don’t leave it as just another great idea. Unlocking Cornish Potential (UCP) can help you grow it into a successful reality.

UCP knows all about good business – we’ve been helping Cornish businesses strengthen and grow for some time now. So we thought it would also make good sense to offer some of our resources and expertise to start-up businesses in Cornwall, to further boost entrepreneurialism and innovation in the region.

Building on the success of our graduate placement scheme, we are now offering a similar level of support for start-up businesses. This support includes:

• Help with business planning
• A range of financial support – to help your new business in its first vital months.
• Business Awareness Training – including specialist training in the skills that are vital for any business’ success, such as: Project Management, Solving Problems, Business Finance, Managing and Motivating Yourself, Marketing, and Time Management.
• Mentor support – regular meetings and planning sessions with a mentor who has expert knowledge and experience to help your new business.
• Regular project meetings with your Business Development Manager – to check your project planning and progress, and identify any issues that you may need help with.
• Access to continuing professional development­ – through the training days and dedicated events organised by UCP throughout the year.
• Fantastic networking opportunities – as an important part of UCP, you’ll benefit from our networking events and the contact with other businesses and our partners that we’ll happily set up for you.

Application criteria:

1. You must hold a degree level qualification (HND/Foundation degree minimum or equivalent)
2. You must have graduated within the past 5 years (2005 graduates are the earliest we can consider)
3. You must be resident in Cornwall throughout the duration of the programme
4. Your business must be based in Cornwall i.e. registered in the County already, or will be
5. If your business is already in operation, it must be less than 12 months since it officially started trading

The application date for the 2010 programme has now passed.