Business start-ups

If you are interested in starting up a business or freelancing as a career, the enterprise team are here to provide you with lots of advice and help through 1:1 support, workshops, and events. We can also help with funding to kick start your business or move your business on to the next level. 

Check out the video below to meet our Business Adviser, Nicky Curtis and to hear from a few of the lovely students and graduates who we have supported.

No matter what stage you are at in your thinking we have something for you.

Are you thinking you may want to explore being self-employed as a freelancer or through starting a business, but the ideas aren’t quite there yet?

• Come along to our monthly freelancer or founder sessions to hear from Solent alumni who are doing just that! An informal vibe where you can sit back and listen to our alumni friends, and gain lots of information and advice on what it’s like to run your own business.
  All our events are advertised on the Student Portal events pages.
• Follow Solent Futures and Solent Creatives on Instagram to keep in the know about other upcoming sessions and events that can help you to explore self-employment.
• Drop into Solent Creatives (JM109), to ask about paid freelancing opportunities.

Do you have a business idea/plan but would like some help shaping that plan and what you need to do?

Are you running a business already but need some help and advice?

• Book in for a 1:1 chat with our Business Adviser. Appointments are available on campus on a Wednesday and online via Teams throughout the week. Please e-mail enterprise@solent.ac.uk to book.
• Email enterprise@solent.ac.uk with any questions you may have.
• Attend a workshop on Getting Started In the principles of getting started in business/freelancing.
  All our events are advertised on the Student Portal events pages.
• Explore our start-up funding information to help kick-start your business/freelancing career

There is so much support available through the enterprise team at Solent and nothing beats a chat!

As well as the support at Solent University, below is a list of useful websites which are all government backed.

Setting up a business

When you set up your business you will need to register with Inland Revenue. This link will tell you about the different business structures and this is where you can register. https://www.gov.uk/set-up-business

Companies House

Setting up a Limited Company then go to this link you can search to see if the name you wish to use is available. It is also useful for checking out companies that you might want to do business with. https://www.gov.uk/get-information-about-a-company

The British Business Bank

If you are looking for a flexible loan to start up a new business, then visit this site. The British Business Bank are backed by the government and deliver their start up loan programme, providing finance and support for businesses who struggle to access other forms of finance. https://www.startuploans.co.uk/

Intellectual property (IP)

The IP of any business is its most important asset and should not be overlooked. If you would like to learn more about IP, then check out this link https://www.ipo.gov.uk/ip-support/ There are some interesting training sessions you can do. You may of course need to employ an IP solicitor, but this website will help you with the basics.

Nesta

If you are creative and starting a business Nesta created the Creative Enterprise Toolkit – a practical resource to help you plan, build, test and communicate and launch your creative business. https://www.nesta.org.uk/toolkit/creative-enterprise-toolkit/

Arts Council

If you are in the creative sector this website provides opportunities for some practitioners to apply for grant funding particularly in the cultural sector. https://www.artscouncil.org.uk