Students, entrepreneurs and companies are being offered free support to take their business to the next level with mentoring and guidance from Oxford Business College.
The college has launched the Oxford Business Innovation and Incubation Centre to offer growing businesses mentoring, workshops, and assistance with product development.
In the first intake, 50 businesses comprising 39 students and 11 companies will receive an hour of mentoring every fortnight for up to three years at no cost.
This will be provided at Oxford Business College campuses in Oxford, Nottingham, west London and Slough.
Vanusa Catenacci, a business management student at Oxford Business College and owner of Oxford cafe Sofi De France, said: "I’ve already had three months of mentoring with Mick and it has already made a massive impact on our business.
“Running a cafe in Oxford means we’re part of a hugely complicated market with large numbers of competitors, and the mentoring has helped deal with some challenges.”
The programme encouraged her to review the sales of her cafe’s 30-item menu, subsequently reducing loss-making items and focusing on profitable products.
She added: "We’ve already seen our revenues increase as a result."
Daniela Stepanescu, another entrepreneurial student, is preparing to set up a cosmetology business and is receiving mentoring from Oxford Business Innovation and Incubation Centre's experts.
She said: “It takes a lot of confidence to set up your own business and the mentors at Oxford Business College have been helping me find that.
"When the time comes to open my beauty salon, I will have the confidence to hit the ground running."
The mentoring team at Oxford Business Innovation and Incubation Centre boasts a combined experience of 65 years in guiding businesses from inception to initial public offering across various sectors.
The team features innovation and incubation manager Mick Murphy, tech entrepreneur and investor Bryony Tinn-Disbury and Simoni Wong, who has two decades of C-suite level experience and has successfully executed two initial public offerings.
Chairman of the executive board of Oxford Business College, Sarwar Khawaja, said: "The Oxford Business Innovation and Incubation Centre is my way of giving back to our students and the community, and helping turn business ideas into success stories.
“Many Oxford Business College students are born entrepreneurs, and we love to support them as they launch and grow their own businesses.
“Our flexible courses make it possible for students to hold down a job while studying, making us the perfect place for mature learners and those who want a new career.”
Oxford Business College invites students, entrepreneurs and businesses to apply to the programme by emailing oxbiic@oxfordbusinesscollege.ac.uk.
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