A new dedicated co-working space for student start-ups has been unveiled, with the opening of the new Enterprise Lounge on the Wrexham Glyndwr University campus.
The Enterprise Lounge enables start-ups to secure the office space and facilities they need to launch their businesses in an encouraging and supportive environment.
Contracts have been signed, and a handover of keys took place earlier this month, with Megan Breakwell, the Entrepreneurship Co-ordinator from the Wrexham Glyndwr Enterprise Team and the first tenants.
Three student/graduate businesses have already moved into the Enterprise Lounge for a sixth month tenancy period.
The intention behind the Enterprise Lounge is to foster a community of entrepreneurs on campus, which will hopefully encourage an innovative and supportive environment to help other students start up.
It will also allow students to operate from an official office space, complete with a private meeting room and office facilities.
The trio of student/graduate businesses setting up base at the Enterprise Lounge are settling in and already reaping the benefits.
David Hoares, of D and S Art, an art based start-up which teaches art, printmaking, and jewellery making, said: “It’s more of a professional environment.
“Working from home at the moment is quite difficult with two kids and wife there also.”
Emyr Owen – a former Student Ambassador at Wrexham Glyndwr – has founded InstaSim, a service which provides Welsh translations, has also moved in to the Enterprise Lounge.
He said: “This space great for me, it provides a business environment and also gives me a place to undertake business related work rather than having to be stuck in one place doing everything all the time.”
Krasimira Petkova, has set up K and P Fusion, which arranges private medical treatment for internationals.
The business arranges all treatment, travel, activities, places to eat, for the internationals themselves and their families during their stay.
“This space means a lot for me to be able to concentrate on boosting and launching my digital platform now”, Krasimira said.
Megan Breakwell, Entrepreneurship Co-ordinator was delighted with the launch of the Enterprise Lounge.
She said: “It is fantastic to be able to offer students an office space from which they can run their business.
“By gathering likeminded people and start-ups from all industries in one office, students can share ideas, network and ultimately create a community from which everyone will benefit.”
There is also an opening for local businesses or people in industry to sponsor a ‘desk’ to provide a student with a year’s free office space. The total cost £500 per year and in return, businesses can place their logos on the wall of the Enterprise Lounge.
If businesses have ideas on how they would like to support start-ups in another sense, please also say they are free to get in touch via enhance@glyndwr.ac.uk
The Wrexham Glyndwr Enterprise Team is also hosting an opportunity on September 29 for students and graduates to pitch for small grants (£3,000 or less) to start or develop their business
These grants are specifically tailored to help support our start-ups and help keep them thriving
Some of those pitching are previous candidates of last year’s Ambition Vault competition for investment, showing the longevity of the Enterprise team’s support and dedication to students.
Laura Gough, Head of Enterprise, said: “I am so pleased that we are able to provide small financial grants to our students to help boost their confidence and help take their idea to the next level – without them having to worry about paying it back!”
For more information about Business and Enterprise at Wrexham Glyndwr University, visit https://www.glyndwr.ac.uk/en/Business/
Pictured: David Hall, Emyr Owen and Krasimira Petkova sign their tenancy contracts and pick up the keys from Entrepreneurship Co-ordinator Megan Breakwell.