START UP Summer Launchpad Empowers Student Entrepreneurs in Newcastle

Our START UP team successfully delivered its first Summer Launchpad event, a three-day intensive programme designed to equip student and recent graduate entrepreneurs with the skills, confidence, and connections needed to take their first steps in business.

Bringing together aspiring founders and regional experts, the Summer Launchpad provided a collaborative and high-energy environment where participants could develop ideas, access specialist advice, and engage with Newcastle’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Building skills and inspiration

The programme opened with an Indie Business Breakfast, featuring Dr Lewis Potter, founder of Geeky Medics, who shared his candid and relatable start-up journey.

This was followed by a highly attended Sales and Lead Generation Workshop led by Jessica Williams, founder of her own sales agency Just Williams. Demand for the session exceeded expectations, highlighting the strong interest amongst students in developing this core commercial skill.

Students also took part in a Founders Club Mini Hackathon, run by the Founders Club Society, which focused on digital problem-solving and pitching. The session generated a range of innovative ideas, with several participants continuing to develop their concepts beyond the event.

Expert insight and tailored support

Day two focused on personalised guidance and industry expertise. Students engaged in Launch Surgeries with business advisors and participated in a structured session delivered by recent Alumni, Accountxable Club, focusing on goal setting, productivity, and accountability.

A standout feature of the programme was the Expert Drop-in Session, which connected students directly with over a dozen industry experts, including accountants, legal advisers, LinkedIn specialists and more. The interactive format enabled participants to ask questions, build relationships, and gain practical insights tailored to their ventures.

Exploring Newcastle’s start-up ecosystem

The final day centred on community building and increasing awareness of local opportunities beyond START UP. Students accessed one-to-one coaching sessions before taking part in an Ecosystem Crawl across Newcastle.

The guided tour introduced participants to key business hubs and co-working spaces, including the NatWest Accelerator, Grainger Hub, and Barclays Eagle Lab, helping to build confidence in accessing regional support networks.

The programme concluded with a talk from Newcastle University alumnus and founder Joshy Jin, followed by a shared meal at his restaurant Wok Manifesto, providing an opportunity for participants to reflect on their experience and strengthen peer connections.

Positive student impact

Feedback from participants highlights the programme’s success in building confidence and awareness:

“Before the crawl I didn’t even know there were co-working spaces like NatWest in the city — and that most of it is free. I’ve wanted to visit Barclays Eagle Lab for weeks but didn’t have the confidence; meeting them in person has really helped.”

“The expert session was incredible… being able to meet different specialists and start building relationships was amazing. Honestly, some of the best workshops I’ve had at Newcastle University.”

Ongoing support for student founders

START UP supports students and recent graduates all year round, offering one-to-one appointments, resources, and opportunities for those interested in exploring self-employment and entrepreneurship.