News
Tuesday 6 February 2007
One-stop-shop starter kit for students
Leaving home for university is set to become a lot easier thanks to an inspired business idea from a young student entrepreneur. Nottingham Trent University’s Dan Breen has created UNI-FIED, a starter-kit designed to provide students with all the basic apartment essentials without them needing to shop around.
UNI-FIED includes bedding, pots and pans, crockery, cutlery, a first aid kit and promotional offers. The initiative, which costs between £35 and £50, is available online, and will even be delivered to the student’s new home as part of the service. It is being piloted to Nottingham students initially.
“New students have a lot to take in when they come to university, and that’s before you take in to account all the essentials which they need to buy to survive”, said Dan, a final-year student on Nottingham Trent University’s Business and ICT course.
He said: “The idea will be of particular interest to international students who have not only come to a new city, but a new country, and probably have little idea of where best to shop for these items. Also, they do not want to bring all their belongings overseas when they know they could be waiting for them when they arrive at their new home.”
Students will have the opportunity to upgrade their UNI-FIED package, by requesting thicker duvets, better quality or extra utensils, or USB memory keys for their computers.
Dan came up with the idea as part of the national Student Placements for Entrepreneurs in Education (SPEED) project, which enables gap-year students to develop their business ideas. SPEED students are based at the university’s business incubation unit, The Hive, where they receive a full range of support including training, mentoring and access to business resources.
Student Liaison Enterprise Adviser, and Dan’s tutor, Phil Clarke, said: “This is a fantastic idea and one which I am sure students will take advantage of. The fact that the service is delivered free of charge is an added bonus. The SPEED project has really paid off for Dan; it has helped him develop this idea without him having to wait until a number of years after graduation.”
Students will be able to sign up to receive UNI-FIED from next month, ready for when they arrive at the university later in the year.
ENDS
Notes for editors: Visit the UNI-FIED website from the end of March at www.uni-fied.co.uk
UNI-FIED includes: medium tog duvet and pillow, pot and frying pan set, baking tray, dinner plate, side plate, bowl and mug, knife, fork, teaspoon and tablespoon, wooden spoons, sieve, spatula, small first aid kit, basic stationery set.
The SPEED project, led by the University of Wolverhampton, was officially launched on Tuesday, February 6, at the National Space in Leicester.
For more information please contact: Dave Rogers, Press Officer, on Tel: 0115 848 8782, or via email: dave.rogers@ntu.ac.uk
or Therese Easom, Press and Media Relations Manager, on Tel: 0115 848 8774, or via email: therese.easom@ntu.ac.uk
