Success stories

Since The Hive began in 2001, our students and businesses have won many awards, accolades and competitions. These have included regional prizes at the:

• Nottinghamshire Business Awards
• Spirit of Enterprise Awards
• Prince's Trust Entrepreneur of the Year Award
• Regional Student Business Plan Competition
• Nottingham Evening Post Business Awards.

Take a closer look at some of our successes.

 

Sport Lived
Sport Lived arrange sport and travel experiences for young players and coaches. They enable people to play or coach sport during a gap year or summer break.

FitBrits
Warren Nash, founder of FitBrits.com, found that The Hive gave invaluable help and advice. 

Pietanze
With help from The Hive, Marco Baglieri is bringing a taste of Sicily to Britain with his company Pietanze - a Sicilian food import and distribution company based in Nottingham.

Camilla Brent-Smith
Camilla started a Masters in Textile Design and Innovation at Nottingham Trent University in September 2009 and completed it by designing a collection of luxury interior fabrics. She then started HeadStart at the Hive in September 2010 and continued to develop her textile design business with the support of our SmarTrak programme.

Creating Focus
A graduate of the Hive's Headstart programme, Sarah Dale, the Chartered Occupational Psychologist behind the Creating Focus® coaching programme, recently wrote and published a self-help book whilst running her coaching business, which was started at The Hive.

Spinster's Emporium
With prestige London department store Liberty secured as its first stockist, Spinster's Emporium has taken a major step towards becoming a big name in the material world. Donna Bramhall, founder of this distinctive craft brand, saw her perseverance and creativity pay dividends as Liberty placed its first order for her striking range of DIY fashion kits.

Sonodesign
Since launching from The Hive just two years ago, Grant Baker and Nick Jackson have lit up the international design scene with a striking range of contemporary lighting, furniture and accessories. Their company, Sonodesign, prides itself on creating simple, individual and desirable products which are manufactured in the UK to the highest standards and are now sold by over 40 prestige stockists worldwide.

Freeway IP
Being part of The Hive has helped bring extra focus to creative video production company Freeway IP in those all-important first years of operation. Delivering high quality advertising, promotional and training films, Freeway was established five years ago by experienced TV professionals Chris Rogers and Nick Kirk.

Orb and Crash
Founded by Nottingham Trent Graphic Design graduates, Jay Ludditt and Jonathan Hawley, Orb and Crash is a rapidly expanding dynamic branding and design agency based in Nottingham.

Digicom Solutions
Wholesale electronics company, Digicom Solutions, was founded in 2006 by NTU graduate, Kawsar Miah, whilst he was on his placement year. The company employs eight people and has reached a turnover of over £1.2 million.

Go Dine
Serving up a modern solution to the age-old problem of finding and filling restaurants is enabling Hive entrepreneur Adam Roberts to satisfy his appetite for business success. His company, Go dine, helps restaurants promote their vacant seats during quiet times, while allowing diners to find and book a table for a great eating out experience.

& Then Design
With a name chosen to convey a sense of constant progression, Then Design has gained a little extra direction on the road to success - thanks to The Hive. Set-up by Furniture and Product Design graduates Samuel Wright and Jamie Bowler, Then Design has carved out a reputation for creating inimitable furniture, products and interior design for both the domestic and contract markets.

Markoulakis Publications
The impressive global reputation of independent publishing house Markoulakis Publications speaks volumes for The Hive's success in supporting an increasingly diverse range of businesses. Established in 2006 by Nikolaos Markoulakis, a PhD student at Nottingham Trent University, the venture has won international renown for publishing academic books and journals which shed new light on classical heritage.

Regenerate
Hive entrepreneur May Cortazzi is setting new trends in the drive to fight poverty through fashion. Her fashion label, Regenerate, is designed for the customer who wants to look good while doing good. "Regenerate is all about new ways of tackling poverty, helping the environment and using eco-intelligent fabrics," says May. "It caters for the demand on the high street for style-conscious ethical clothing."

Strafe Creative
Drawing on The Hive's services has provided a solid foundation for two enterprising young designers whose vibrant new agency has built a diverse international client base in less than a year. As founders of Strafe Creative, product design graduates Ross Davies and Patrick Dolan knew exactly where to go to transform their creativity and originality into a viable business venture.

Nellie PR
Nellie PR was launched in Nottingham in 2007 by PR specialist, Ellen Carroll. Nellie PR blends traditional public relations and online PR to deliver attention, real and measurable value to its clients.

Flying Cows Consulting
Flying Cows arranges teaching placements in South Korea for graduates of all disciplines. Set up in 2004 by Amanda McGillivray, the company has enjoyed rapid growth and currently place up to 30 graduates in employment every month.

Prime Principle
Prime Principle was started by NTU graduates, David Francis and Chris Scarth, who developed the award-winning Classroom Monitor - an ongoing record-keeping and end-of-year report writing tool for primary schools. The company has won numerous awards including the Nottingham Evening Post Young Business of the Year accolade in 2007. They have also gained a DTI Smart Award and were recently short-listed as finalists in HSBC's National Start-up Awards.

Debbie Bryan
Winner of NCB Craft Award 2007, Debbie Bryan is a textile artist who designs and makes distinctive knitted and felt scarves and resin jewellery. Former NTU student, Debbie, sells her designs through independent retailers in the UK and US.