INSIGHTS / News

SETsquared has been highly commended by the UK Government in its Enterprising Britain Awards.

SETsquared, the partnership of the universities of Bath, Bristol, Exeter, Southampton and Surrey, has been highly commended for its ground-breaking entrepreneurship programme which is run across Southern England and works to turn entrepreneurs’ technology ideas into business investment propositions.

The Enterprising Britain Awards are part of the government’s drive to increase entrepreneurial activity in the UK and are managed by Young Chamber Ltd on behalf of the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS).

The Building Enterprise Skills category identifies the school, college or other organisation or partnership that is best improving entrepreneurial and enterprise skills in a number of ways, including promoting enterprise-specific skills such as product development and business planning.

The programme was introduced into Basingstoke this year in partnership with Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council and has kick started some fantastic new tech businesses in the area. The course gives delegates a chance to pitch to a panel of investors and get candid feedback on their business proposition and includes training on market analysis, funding strategies, business plans.

Simon Bond, Innovation Director at SETsquared, said: “We’re very proud to have been highly commended by the judges in this award. The work we do through the entrepreneurship training programme is vital to the local area and seeing the phenomenal success of the entrepreneurs we support is reward enough for us so this really is the icing on the cake.”

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council Leader Clive Sanders said: “To be recognised by such a prestigious Government-backed award is testament to the success of the partnership between the council and SETsquared, one of the world’s top business support groups. To create good jobs for our growing population, it is important to grow our own businesses as well as attracting companies to come here. The incubation hub is supporting budding entrepreneurs who have good ideas to create new businesses in one of the best places in the country to set up a hi-tech company.”

Free spaces are available on SETsquared’s next entrepreneurship training programme at its Basing View hub in Basingstoke from 13-15 October. Visit localhost/setsquared-live/enterprise for more information or contact Adrian Braine on 07904 570206.

SETsquared will attend a presentation event at the House of Commons in November to receive its Judges Highly Commended Award.