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Opportunities and partner programmes

University of York Innovation Masterclasses

Innovate York will offer a series of workshops, women's peer-to-peer networking and specialist events to businesses and entrepreneurs throughout the city. The programme is delivered by the University of York and funded by City of York Council through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Innovation can lead to increased revenue, reduced costs, and a stronger market presence, ultimately contributing to the long-term sustainability and growth of your business.

Engage with Innovate York to:

  • Gain Competitive Advantage: Stand out, attract and retain customers, and charge premium prices through innovation.
  • Expand Market Reach: Enter new markets or grow your current market share for increased revenue and growth opportunities.
  • Adapt to Changing Trends: Stay agile by responding to evolving consumer preferences, market trends, and technological advancements.

Activity will take place between December 2023 and January 2025.

Our programme seeks to drive longer-term investments in the city, leading to higher productivity, competitiveness and growth. Some events within the programme will specifically focus on women in innovation, led by trusted female entrepreneurs in the city.

Find out more and register your interest

Eagle Labs Black Founder Accelerator York

Since 2020 Barclays Eagle Labs and Foundervine have been supporting black founders through our accelerator programmes. Over the last three years we have accelerated over 100 black-led businesses through our programmes, provided access to our ecosystem, ran community build events as well as connecting them with world class coaches and Barclays champions whilst during and after the programme.

As part of the recruitment for the next cohort, the team are launching a roadshow to introduce the programme to our ecosystem, answer any questions and hear real life examples from some of the founders who have gone through our programmes, and they will be coming to York!

Join us on Tuesday 30 May 2023 at 5.30pm to 8pm at The Guildhall in York to hear from the team, and a panel of our alumni from the programme, mentors, coaches and experts in the ecosystem about how we are supporting diverse founders and what opportunities there are in the region!

Find more information and register

York Community Fund

If you have an idea to help a community need in York, then we can help you make it happen.

Whether you are a student or staff member you can apply to the University Community Fund to kickstart your initiative.

Find out more

Recent opportunities

Enterprise Works are delighted to announce the launch of the University's new Women in Enterprise programme, focusing on the lived experiences of women across a range of sectors and roles within enterprise. The events will focus on the stories of women, from all levels of business and within a wide variety of business sectors, considering how they have overcome social bias and barriers to business and discussing what is required to remove the necessity for continued gender equality conversations over the next decade.

We recognise the importance of allies within this conversation. All genders are warmly invited to attend the events, to build greater understanding of the different perspectives and to identify how we can share best practice and support one another.

University of York Enterprise Awards

Enterprise Works will be showcasing the best of enterprise in York and the region with the following award categories:

  • Best Growing Business
  • Star Enterpriser – Individual
  • Star Enterprise Team
  • Best Business Idea
  • Best Enterprise Education Programme
  • Delivering Social Impact Award

Are you a change-maker, a disruptor or simply a hardworking team that deserves to be recognised? Take home an inaugural Enterprise Award and stake your claim as one of North Yorkshire's best-known businesses.

Find out more

Go Skills Scholarship

The Go Skills Scholarship is a $2,000 scholarship open to female high school and university students wanting to start up their own business.

How to thrive in Your UNpreneurial journey

  • Time: Wednesday 26 April, 2pm to 3.30pm
  • Format: 1-hour session with a further 30-mins of focused Q and A
  • Host: Jasmin Corbett, Health Coach at Wellthy You

The registration link for this Zoom Webinar can be found here: https://linktr.ee/unpreneur

This is an incredible opportunity for you to gain valuable insights and tools to help you succeed in your UNpreneurial journeys!

ChemUK Pitch Event. Wednesday 10 May at the NEC, Birmingham.

An opportunity for bio-based entrepreneurs to pitch their business ideas to investors and industry leaders to gain valuable insights and form new business relationships.

This is an opportunity to:

  • Present to specialist investors with an interest in investing in this sector
  • Raise the profile of your business to an audience at a high-profile event

To apply please send the pitch deck that you would use to support a three minute pitch to chris.hiscocks@york.ac.uk no later than 5pm on Friday 21 April. Applicants will be notified if they have been awarded a place in the Pitch Event no later than Tuesday 25 April.

This event is being organised as part of the Bioeconomy Ventures programme and will be taking place as part of the ChemUK Expo 2023.

This project has received funding from the Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking (JU) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101023260. The JU receives support from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme and the Bio-based Industries Consortium.

The Deutsche Bank Awards for Creative Entrepreneurs 2023

Applications are closing soon! Change makers wanted for The Deutsche Bank Awards for Creative Entrepreneurs 2023, open to anyone over the age of 18 who’s seeking to drive positive impact through their creative enterprise.

£60k prize fund. £100K worth of tailored business support. 5 winners

All business stages are eligible from idea stage to scaling up. Creative Industries specific. Resources are available on the DBACE website to support you to complete your application.

Find out more and apply by March 31, 2021: dbace.org

Last Call to Enter the Lee Kuan Yew Global Business Plan Competition to Win S$2.5 Million in Prizes!

🧑🏻 🎓 Are you a student founder or recent graduate* with a game-changing idea that could change the world?
Now is the time to let the world know it!

Organized by the Singapore Management University (SMU) Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (IIE), the Lee Kuan Yew Global Business Plan Competition brings together top student founders from around the world to Singapore to win:

S$2.5 million worth of prizes and counting! 💰
Direct access and connection to 100+ top VCs & Corporates in the region! 🔗
Complimentary flights and accommodation for the trail-blazing Top 50 Finalist Teams in September 2023 ✈️

Don't miss your chance! Hurry and apply as the sign-ups close in 2 weeks on 31 March 2023. Act now or miss out!

*Recent graduate refers to persons who were previously enrolled full-time in a polytechnic, undergraduate, postgraduate, or PhD program but graduated or dropped out between 31 March 2018 and 31 March 2023.

APPLY NOW!