Business
Innovation Zone
helps new graduates
step ahead
T
HE BUSINESS INNOVATION ZONE (BIZ) on campus is now
a thriving hub of activity with eleven fledgling graduate
businesses taking their first steps into the commercial world.
The enterprises range from young drama companies and video
production teams to sustainability measurement consultants and a
music documentary producer.
Based in the central atrium in the university, the aim of the BIZ is to
support the development of entrepreneurial graduates by providing a
nurturing, innovative environment and facilities that will help ease the
pressures associated with getting young businesses off the ground.
Aside from having an established base, reduced overheads
and access to IT, QMU’s graduate companies can now access
the services of Enterprise Campus, a collaboration between
the Scottish Funding Council and Scotland’s 19 universities,
which is located at the BIZ one day per week, as well as other
external organisations such as Scottish Institute for Enterprise
and Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce. As QMU was the
first University to have a Business Gateway incorporated
into its campus, graduates can also tap into expertise from
Gateway business advisers on a regular basis.
QMU’s BIZ initiative responds to the increasing role of universities
in making Scotland a world-leading entrepreneurial and enterprising
nation. This aspiration is set out in both the Scottish Government’s
Innovation Framework ‘Scotland Can Do’ and Universities Scotland’s
cross-sector commitment and entrepreneurship action plan ‘Making
it Happen’. Our strategy is to continue to embed enterprise deeper
within the culture and curricula of QMU and increase the level of
entrepreneurship support for students.
BIZ users, Sam Sadler and Cordelia Toennies, have established a video
production company which creates promotional videos and short films
for a diverse range of clients including charities, hotel groups and theatre
companies. The young entrepreneurs behind FilmMeThis are passionate
about providing a personalised quality service which falls within clients’
budgets. The company also provides photography services thereby offering
an all-round comprehensive visual service.
Sam Sadler from FilmMeThis, explained: “With the rise in use of
digital media, everyone now requires good quality video content to help
communicate their main messages and stand out in the marketplace.
There is big demand for video product services but there is also lots of
competition to secure people’s business.”
Sam continued: “We always knew we wanted to run our own business
but it takes time to get established and to build a portfolio and clientele.
Being part of the BIZ gives us space to breath. It offers us time to develop
contacts and get our business properly established without being under
pressure to pay significant running costs for premises. As part of our
agreement with QMU, we continue to make an in-kind contribution to
the University which helps keep us connected with staff and students.”
Bawsoot Theatre company
18
QMYOU / Business Innovation Zone