News

December 20, 2011

Boris calls on UK graduates to pitch for free start-up support

Mayor of London Boris Johnson has called on graduates with business ideas to apply for the free start-up support available under the Government’s Entrepreneur First scheme, before the deadline for entries on 31 December.

Entrepreneur First is a not-for-profit scheme announced in March this year by the Prime Minister, aimed at providing a new route into entrepreneurship for graduates.

The initiative offers successful graduates applicants free start-up support including mentoring from established entrepreneurs, networking with major businesses and investors, and free legal advice.

The programme starts full time in September 2012. Most of the training and events will be based in at technology hub East London Tech City.

“Entrepreneur First typifies the spirit of enterprise and innovation that is building in and around the East London Tech City initiative,” said Johnson. “With so many promising start-ups and great ideas emerging from the Old Street area, it is the perfect place for ambitious young entrepreneurs from across the country to make their home.”

Entrepreneur First chief executive Matt Clifford added: “With just a couple of weeks still to go, we are delighted by the level of interest we have seen. We’re particularly pleased that applications have been coming in from a wide spread of universities across the UK.

“History shows us that the best ideas and businesses don’t just come from traditional ‘red brick’ universities so it’s great to see that students from across the country believe that becoming an entrepreneur is the right career for them,” he added.

• Apply to the Entrepreneur First programme