Heriot-Watt University has announced that applications are being accepted from burgeoning entrepreneurs looking to advance their innovative ideas.

Through a new Edinburgh Business School (EBS) Incubator, students will gain access to facilities, as well as a suite of specialist support and advice to aid their ambitions.

The EBS Incubator provides specialist, one-to-one mentorship, free desk space and dedicated training and workshops to encourage, support and develop participants.

Applicants will be able to access the facilities and expertise free of charge, the university said, with the only financial obligation being to fund Public Liability insurance.

Heriot-Watt added that spaces in the EBS Incubator last for one year, although there may be an option to extend. Anyone can apply, providing they are not a full-time undergraduate or taught postgraduate.

Commenting on the news, Professor Laura Galloway, who will lead the Business Incubator at EBS, said there has never been a more important time to encourage growth in the sector.

“The cost-of-living crisis and rising inflation has created a perfect storm among small and medium sized enterprises,” Galloway said.

“To access the support needed to help drive forward these ventures, which are vitally important to the UK economy, means there has never been a more important time for dedicated schemes, such as our EBS Incubator, to be made available.”

Since its launch in 2018, the EBS Incubator has assisted more than 50 companies and played a role in helping participants access grants and other finance and refine their offerings.

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Professor Galloway continued: “The Incubator’s aim is to create a diverse community of new-start firms and provide them with support that would help them take their business ideas and ambitions to the next stage.

“That’s why today I am calling on all fledgling entrepreneurs who would benefit from the dedicated, tailored support, to get in touch.”

Current members of the incubator include the digital communications platform Tecive, whose Director, Mael Abgrall, spoke of the benefits of the scheme: “The incubator helped us reach the next stage for our start-up, greatly improved our focus, and helped us take the steps to grow our business. Additionally, this was a great opportunity to meet, work and get feedback from like-minded people.”

Heriot-Watt said that the deadline for applications is noon on Monday 13th of June, 2022. Applications will be considered by a committee who will decide which businesses are shortlisted to give a five-minute pitch explaining their business and how the incubator will benefit them.

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