The Graduate Entrepreneur Programme

A 52-week intense start-up programme to help international Kent graduates to set up their own successful businesses in the UK

Convener/Instructor: / Dr G. Tendayi Viki, Enterprise Director, School of Psychology
Workshop Mentors: / Stephanie Barwick, Paul Andrews, Tim Deeson, Howard Kendall, Liam Gooding, Joe Thomsett, Salim Virani, Rob Fitzpatrick, Johanna Kollman, Jo Dodds, Martin Millar, John Cristal and others
Programme Assistant: / TBC
Programme Director: / Stephanie Barwick, Business Engagement Manager, Kent Innovation & Enterprise
Texts: / The Lean Startup – Eric Ries
The Startup Owner’s Manual - Steve Blank
Business Model Generation - Alexander Osterwalder
The Lean Entrepreneur - Brant Cooper & Patrick Vlaskovits

ost to each participant: £12k

This includes all course material, business advice/mentoring sessions by industry experts, fully furnished office space at the Kent Enterprise Hub and 1-1 weekly supervision, support and coaching by the course convener and programme director throughout the programme.

Criteria for Application

Only international students from the University of Kent may apply who have finished their degree and recently graduated. There is no subject preference; however priority will be given to graduates who have achieved a First or 2.1 BA (hons) Degree.

A short application form, which is attached to the programme details, outlining the business idea and personal details needs to be submitted by 1st September 2012 to . A University of Kent panel will review all applications and inform the successful candidates by 24th September 2012. The programme is limited to 10 participants and will commence on 1st October 2012.

A reference in support of the application needs to be provided by the applicant’s academic supervisor.

Successful candidates will be provided with a Tier 1 Visa by the UK Border Agency which allows them to remain in the UK and complete the full length of the programme, providing the full cost of the programme has been received and the applicant can demonstrate funds in the sum of £900.00 over a period of 90 days. If the business idea is viable at the end of the 52 week programme, participants have the opportunity to remain in the UK for an additional year thereafter.

Successful candidates agree to have their performance monitored throughout the programme to ensure they are reaching their full potential.

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