Got an idea for a better world? Thinking about starting your own business, going freelance - or just keen to boost your entrepreneurial mindset and skills? We’re here to support anyone looking to carve their own path.
What is entrepreneurship?
Entrepreneurship is the process of setting up a business, becoming a freelancer or developing a social enterprise. It’s about having an idea and making it happen!
Employers often look to hire people with an entrepreneurial mindset and skills. This is sometimes referred to as intrapreneurship, enhancing innovation within existing organisations.
Whether you are starting out on your own or just want to develop your skillset, the entrepreneurship programme at Sussex is for everyone.
How can we support you
We can support you from the early stages of developing an idea for a business or social enterprise, all the way through to launching and scaling a venture.
Our services are open to everyone and can help you to explore your entrepreneurial side, while building the skills that employers look for, like problem-solving, team-work, creative thinking and pitching ideas.
Find out more about our upcoming support programmes, such as Ideas Lab, Go Freelance, Startup Sussex and the Momentum Incubator.
You can:
- attend workshops and events featuring expert speakers and alumni founders
- join meetups to connect with like-minded students and alumni
- sign up to our newsletter to stay updated on what’s coming up and new opportunities
- access the Entrepreneurship Canvas site, which includes recordings, short courses and useful resources
- join Sussex Connect which is a good place to network, find others to collaborate with and seek advice from former students.
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 learn how to develop a venture
- get 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 a number of funding initiatives at Sussex to help you launch and grow your business or social enterprise. As well as our flagship Startup Sussex competition, there are additional grants, competitions and an incubator for existing ventures.
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 or product 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 cannot engage in business activity while on a student visa. You can still talk to us for advice about your ideas and participate in workshops and some competitions. Find out more about what you can do after graduation in the UK.
Stories and inspiration
Take a look at these examples of Sussex students that have launched ventures.
You can also listen to our entrepreneurship podcast and read our start-up blog.