The Breaking Barriers Enterprise Award is a new and exciting programme delivered by UWE Bristol for business founders who:
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Identify as women or non-binary; and/or
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Are from Global Majority backgrounds*
Breaking Barriers Enterprise Award
*Global Majority is a collective term used to describe individuals from Black, Asian, Indigenous and Racially Minoritised backgrounds. Its use recognises that despite being in the minority in the UK, people from these backgrounds represent approximately 85% of the world's population.
About
The programme will provide a comprehensive package of support and development for 10 early-stage innovative businesses across the West of England region.
The Award seeks to address structural barriers and systemic challenges that hinder equality of access and opportunity across the West of England’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Building on the success of UWE Bristol’s Launch Space, the programme will deliver a targeted offer of incubation support enabling founders to dedicate time and resource to developing their business innovation.
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How will you be supported?
The Breaking Barriers Enterprise Award has three key streams of support:
Business grant of up to £6,000 will support access and participation with programme provision. As a guide, we suggest that up to 50% of this grant is used to cover costs associated with being able to engage. This could include things like your living, childcare and travel costs. We also suggest that at least 50% of the total grant you receive is spent on unlocking innovation for your business. Examples could include but are not limited to the purchasing of equipment, paying for consultancy and the securing of Intellectual Property.
Business mentorship and training delivered via a focused programme of workshops, peer learning, and one-to-one mentoring support.
Business incubation support, with access to UWE Bristol’s Launch Space incubator. At the end of the Award, founders will also be encouraged and supported to apply for an additional 12 months of free business incubation.
Launch Space has worked with hundreds of early-stage tech founders to help make their businesses successful.
When and where?
The programme will run from April to July 2024 and will take place at UWE Bristol Frenchay Campus’ University Enterprise Zone, where co-working space will be provided in the onsite Launch Space incubator.
Successful applicants will need to be able to commit to a minimum of two days per week to working on their business innovation for the duration of the Award. One of these days requires in-person attendance at our onsite business incubator.
Eligibility
In order to apply for the Award you must meet the following eligibility criteria and programme requirements:
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Identify as a woman or non-binary and/or come from a Global Majority background.
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You have a UK-registered limited company or you are ready to register your limited company
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You want to grow your business and use the grant to have a regional impact (this could include undertaking business activity such as events, training, market research, product development, procurement of goods and services from the region, recruitment of regional talent and skills).
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You can commit to regular one-to-ones and training as part of the programme
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You can commit a minimum of 2 days per week to working on your business, with one day of in-person attendance.
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You have a trading address in the West of England region.
We strongly welcome applications from UWE Bristol Alumni.
Applications from these founders will be prioritised in our allocation of Awards and spaces on the programme.
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If applicable, you are responsible for ensuring that your visa conditions permit you to register and operate a business in the UK.
How to apply
Applications for the Breaking Barriers Enterprise Award closed at midnight on Sunday 10th March.
We are unable to guarantee that waitlist applications will be considered. However, if any founders opt to withdraw from consideration or decline offers of a place on the programme, we will review applications from those on the waitlist.
Contact
We welcome any questions from interested applicants.
These can be submitted via email to launchspace@uwe.ac.uk or via text message or WhatsApp to +447973 655074.
If you require any of this information in an alternative format, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
UWE Bristol takes positive action to address inequality as part of its ambition to be an inclusive university and civic institution.
For more information about out positive action work and how this links to legislative responsibility as part of the Public Sector Equality duty, please visit our
positive action webpages on the UWE Bristol website.