Best UK spot to nurture new firm on campus

Dec 9 2008 by Karen Dent, The Journal

THE University of Teesside has been recognised as the best campus in the country for starting a business and supporting fledgling firms.

It was named Business Incubation Champion of the year for the role it has played in helping the launch of more than 100 graduate companies, creating almost 225 jobs, since 2001.

The university’s new business account manager Eileen Wicks said: “The campus-based business incubation centre welcomes a variety of new companies. These range from hi-tech motion graphics animators, web developers and computer games designers to business support enterprises and lifestyle companies.

“Our work reflects the university’s desire to encourage high levels of business and entrepreneurial activity in the Tees Valley and wider North East of England.

“The award recognises that we are starting to make a real impact on the regional economy by encouraging and supporting entrepreneurship among students, graduates and local people wanting to set up their own businesses.”

The award was presented at the UK Business Incubation annual conference. The judges were looking for organisations which support potential world-class businesses and entrepreneurs in their early stages, who can make a difference in their local, regional and national economies.

Two businesses from the university were also among four graduate start-ups shortlisted in the Incubated Business of the Year award. Fluid Pixel Studios was set up by Stuart Varrall two years ago to provide software for mobile devices.

He has just returned from six months in the US, where he took part in a National Council Graduate Entrepreneurship and Kaufmann Foundation Fellowship. Multimedia developer Twisted Studio, which was set up in 2006 by Kevin Jones, Graham Bryan and Michael Kirby, was also shortlisted.

Its clients have included ITV, CITV and the BBC. Both were mentored by the university’s DigitalCity.