Graduate Retention

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Graduate Retention Entrepreneurship

• Danielle Stickley
• Blackpool Fringe Project
• Matthew Kay
• K Dimension
• David Bagley
• Head of Student Employability and Enterprise
• University of Central Lancashire

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Presentation Outline

• Overview of two ERDF projects
• Graduate Retention
• Graduate Entrepreneurship
• Examples of work undertaken
• Update on progress to date
• Case studies
• Matthew Kay (Graduate Retention)
• Danielle Stickley (Graduate Entrepreneurship)

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1) Graduate Retention

• UNITE a collaboration between UCLan,
  Lancaster University, University of Chester and
  University of Cumbria
• Support SMEs by placing a graduate in the
  business to undertake a defined specific business
  task, e.g write a communications plan, set up a
  website.

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2) Graduate Entrepreneurship

• Supporting graduates in the very early stages of
  business start up.
• Providing hands on assistance including business
  mentoring and advice.
• Specialist sessions available business planning,
  financial management, marketing sales forecasting
  etc.
• Different ways of working e.g. hot desks /
  business units in UCLans Media Factory

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Progress to Date

• Graduate Retention
• 212 SMEs assisted
• 11 new jobs created
• 671,000 (0.671 million) increased sales
• 856,000 (0.856 million) sales safeguarded
• Graduate Entrepreneurship
• 80 new start up companies assisted
• 133 clients registered

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What do the SMEs say?

• Graduate Retention
• This is a great service UCLan is offering, we
  receive enthusiasm, knowledge and extra
  resources. In return we provide genuine
  experience Richard Slater, Slater PR
• Graduate Entrepreneurship
• The programme provides a uniquely supportive
  environment for new businesses.  The facilities
  and support services offered have really helped
  me during the launch of my new business.
  - Rick Flemming, The Word Bureau

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Matthew Kay

• K Dimension Ltd

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Matt KayVisual Designer K Dimension Ltd

• Working with the UNITE project
• 04 March 08Regional Action PlanReebok Stadium,
  Bolton

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K Dimension Ltd work for large branding companies
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We visualise new brand packaging concepts
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Why did we need to contact UNITE

• All our freelancers are London based
• Avoid high risk using unknown freelancers
• We needed a low risk introductory period
• Relevant university training

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Initial concept stage visuals - by Isona Ten
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Stage 1 brand guideline visuals - by Isona Ten
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What did we get at the end of the scheme?

• A useful junior freelancer locally based
• A wealth of research material
• Finalised stage one concept designs
• Enough development for our team to take the
  project to the next level for production

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Danielle Stickley
www.blackpoolfringe.org.uk
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Further Information

• northernlights_at_uclan.ac.uk
• Northern Lights
• Media Factory
• University of Central Lancashire
• Preston
• PR1 2HE
• Tel. [phone]