Do you want to start or grow a business, freelance or independent career?
Whether you want to explore ideas, establish an innovative new service or use your skills and specialisms to create your own opportunities, we’ll help you at every stage, from pre-idea to launch and beyond.
START UP offers bespoke one-to-one coaching, socials, workshops, peer-learning groups, equity-free funding, a pre-accelerator initiative, co-working space and more.
For founders and pioneers
START UP supports all areas of the self-employed. The opportunities we provide extend to any Newcastle University student or recent graduatewho wants to work for themselves in any capacity, full or part-time.
We work with hundreds of students and graduates as individuals or teams. There are currently 191 START UP-supported businesses trading with a combined annual turnover of £98.6 million. Between them, they've raised over £35 million in external investment, won national and global awards and created 672 full-time equivalent jobs.
START UP Coaching is free, confidential and tailored around the specific needs of you and your business or independent career.
You'll meet one-to-one with one of our START UP Advisers, who all have first-hand experience of being self-employed and running a business and are well connected to our regional and national network of entrepreneurs. You'll gain their specialist insights, advice and direction on the steps you need to take to achieve your goals, as well as relevant introductions to their extended network of professionals. Book an appointment either online or in person, via MyCareer.
START UP Space is a free, open plan co-working area located on Level 1 of the King’s Gate building with space for group work, formal meetings and informal conversations. Simply turn up with your laptop or use one of our open access workstations whenever you need a city-centre base. Features and covid-safety measures in place include:
antibacterial wipes for you to clean desks and shared equipment before and after use
hand sanitiser to keep your hands clean
disposable masks to wear when you're not sat down
partition screens between desks
a meeting table and TV screen with HDMI connector for presenting
START UP Huddles are our peer-learning and support groups for those already working with a START UP Adviser. They'll help you share your journey with likeminded peers so you can network and take on challenges together. If you'd like to join a huddle, ask your START UP Adviser.
START UP Founderships is a six month pre-accelerator initiative for new and recent graduates who are ready to start working on a business full-time. This intensive programme helps to get you and your business ready for market entry, first investment and successful application to leading business accelerators. Read more about START UP Founderships.
We endorse eligible international students who want to remain in the UK after graduation to develop and grow an innovative, viable and scalable, UK-based business through the government's Start-up Visa route. Read more about our START UP visa endorsement.
