Ambitious East Midlands businesses given opportunity to fast track growth with support worth over £10k

Businesses from the digital and technology sectors in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire are being given the chance to join an Accelerator Programme run by Nottingham Business School (NBS), one of the top business schools in the UK, delivered by a network of key industry figures and innovators.

Big House Accelerator Programme

The Accelerator is open to early-stage businesses that are trading and ambitious to grow fast, plus pre-start businesses ready to go to market. It will include high-quality, high-value, bespoke learning, mentoring and support worth over £10k as part of a small, select group of talented, passionate digital founders and entrepreneurs.

Invitations are now open for businesses to pitch to be included in the programme, which will begin in January 2019, shaped by feedback from the region’s most successful digital entrepreneurs.

The first of three launch events is being held at Broadway Cinema in Nottingham on 23 October, where businesses will have an introductory taster of the Accelerator, as well as being able to pitch as part of the selection process. Further sessions will be held at iHub in Derby on 1 November and at Broadway Cinema on 6 November.

Successful applicants will access exclusive workshops, mentoring and support from key industry figures and innovators, as well as research and resources from NBS and Nottingham Trent University. The programme is designed to challenge and support participants, leaving them in optimum shape to achieve their plans for growth. The Accelerator network will also provide opportunities to open doors and make meaningful connections. Plus, as a small, select group of digital founders and entrepreneurs, the Accelerator will help to develop a local ecosystem businesses can thrive in.

Dr Lynn Oxborrow, Principal Lecturer in Small Business and Supply Chain Management at Nottingham Business School said: “The Accelerator Programme is a fantastic opportunity for businesses who want to grow fast. Having such a wealth of information and support to hand is invaluable – finding out from the region’s most successful digital entrepreneurs what they wish they’d known when they started out is priceless.

“I urge any business curious about what this Accelerator could offer them to come along to one of the launch events. It could seriously transform your business, and will challenge and inspire you to success.”

The Accelerator Programme is part of the Big House programme – a £5 million support programme for creative and digital industries delivered through a partnership of business support organisations in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

For more information on the launch events, visit https://bighouse.org.uk/news/accelerator-programme

Notes for editors

Press enquiries please contact Sarah McLeod, Corporate PR Manager, on telephone +44 (0)115 848 8735, or via email.

Supported by the European Regional Development Fund, The Big House project provides free support for Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire-based creative and digital businesses.
From developing potential business ideas, nurturing start-ups and new entrepreneurs, to working with established businesses wanting to grow, our partner network provides specialist support. You can access grants, 1-2-1 mentoring, networking events and workshops to help build contacts, skills and knowledge to succeed.