Thinking about starting a business, going freelance or launching a project with purpose? Or just curious and keen to boost your entrepreneurial mindset and skills? The Entrepreneurship team at Sussex is here to support students and recent graduates looking to carve their own path.
What is entrepreneurship?
Entrepreneurship is the process of setting up and running a venture. This could include a commercial business, freelance activity, or developing a creative, environmental or social impact project/enterprise. Put simply, it’s about having an idea and making it happen!
Employers increasingly look to hire people with an entrepreneurial mindset and skills to enhance innovation and productivity within their organisation (intrapreneurship).
How can we support you
The Entrepreneurship Team can help you to explore your entrepreneurial side, while building the skills that employers look for, like problem-solving, creative thinking, teamwork, communication and pitching ideas.
We can support you through the early stages of generating ideas all the way through to launching and scaling a venture.
Find out more about our upcoming support and funding opportunities, such as Ideas Lab, Go Freelance, Bright Ideas, Startup Sussex, Changemaker Challenge and the Momentum Incubator.
You can:
- attend workshops and events featuring expert speakers and alumni founders
- sign up to our newsletter to stay updated with what’s coming up and new opportunities
- access the Entrepreneurship Canvas site, which includes event recordings and useful resources
- join Sussex Connect to network, find others to collaborate with and seek advice from.
You can also book a one-to-one appointment with a member of the Entrepreneurship team to meet online or face-to-face.
In your one-to-one you can:
- discuss ideas, plan next steps and explore how to develop a venture
- access guidance on everything from funding and finance to marketing and intellectual property protection
- receive coaching and feedback to keep you on track
- learn about other opportunities available through the university network.
Funding opportunities
There are several funding initiatives at Sussex to help you test, launch and grow your venture. As well as our flagship Startup Sussex competition we have Bright Ideas to help you explore a concept, Elevate Grants to take a venture to the next level and Changemaker Challenge to develop a project with purpose.
Find out more about funding for your business or social enterprise idea.
Freelancing
Freelancing is a type of self-employment, whereby you work for yourself to provide a service to clients. It can offer more flexibility than traditional employment, but also involves additional considerations and complexities.
Find out more about becoming a freelancer.
Important: If you are an international student, you are encouraged to participate in our support activities and opportunities, but you cannot engage in business or self-employment activity due to visa restrictions. Find out more about what you can do during your studies and after graduation in the UK.
Stories and inspiration
Students and graduates from all backgrounds and disciplines join in with the entrepreneurship programme at Sussex each year.
Find out how it has benefited them as they progress after university.