Are you a new or aspiring entrepreneur looking for support?

Introducing Open Business Creators

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Open Business Creators aims to create the UK’s largest and most inclusive entrepreneurial learning community for those aspiring to start or grow their business.

Founders can engage with the content and programmes here for however long they need, developing their skills and accessing funding and support that is essential for their stage of the entrepreneurial journey.

Explore our content and case studies below to discover how we can be of assistance.

Explore the right business support for you

Our business support journey is designed to assist you at every stage. You can choose the option that suits your current needs.

Curious

Perfect for initial investigations and planning

The “Curious” stage of Open Business Creators has been designed for those who have an idea that want to explore or who want to learn about the world of entrepreneurship. Access free resources and use a business modelling platform to help develop your plans. You’ll also have the opportunity to apply for grant funding from the Open University to help develop your idea or grow your early stage business.

Serious

For those looking to develop their business further

This stage of Open Business Creators will comprise four months of mentoring and support to enable businesses early on in their development to grow and be sustainable. All events, resources and support – webinars, surgeries, and group and peer mentoring – will be facilitated online by Open University Business School’s virtual incubator.

Coming soon

Grow

Ideal for taking your business to the next level

The “Grow” stage of Open Business Creators offers accepted participants mentorship and investment readiness training.

Coming soon

Current funding opportunity

Explore current funding opportunities

Discover our current funding opportunities and find out how to apply.

Disabled Entrepreneurs Fund

Find out how we can help you on your business journey

Please contact us via email using the button below to find out more about ways in which we can support you.

Case studies

Explore the stories of entrepreneurs who have received support for their businesses.

Open University competition awards £60k in grants to small businesses

The Open University (OU) has awarded a total of £60,000 to 18 aspiring business owners to support the next generation of student entrepreneurs.

AFTA Studios

Discover how Becca and Jade turned their passion for women's football into a thriving business with the support of the OU's entrepreneurial programmes and expert mentorship.

UNI SIM

Open University graduate and tech entrepreneur James Markey won a prize at the Santander X Global Awards, Santander’s prestigious international university entrepreneurship competition with his company UNI SIM.

Project RECCE

The First Place prize for the Student Entrepreneurship Competition went to Laurence Moore of Project RECCE, who received £6000 from Santander Universities.

Beyond the bathroom scale

Karen Oliver won the annual Student Entrepreneur Competition, through which she recieved a £1,500 grant from Santander Universities.

Meet our Entrepreneurs in Residence

The OU have appointed dynamic Entrepreneurs in Residence (EIRs) who bring a wealth of experiences and expertise to support the Business Creators programme through advising on programme content and hosting webinars and Q&A sessions.

Safaraz Ali

Experienced business leader/entrepreneur/founder. Over the past 22+ years, founding and successfully establishling the Pathway Group, Nationwide Care Services, Nationwide Care Pharmacy, F5 Foster Care and ThinkFest events. Champions diversity and inclusion and founded the Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards and the Multicultural Apprenticeship Alliance to increase diversity within workforces. Today these initiatives are supported by over 60 large employers.

Mags Byrne

Mags Byrne, founder and CEO of Estars and First for Players, former CEO and Director at the English Premier League, Football Association England, and England Boxing. A dual-qualified lawyer in Wales, England, and the Republic of Ireland, she is recognised as one of the top 50 Irish Women of Influence.

Alex Cole

Alex Cole, CEO of Tin Ventures, is a highly experienced leader in Organisational Change, Innovation, and Sustainability. He has a proven track record of delivering business value through data analytics and insight.

Russell Dalgleish

Russell Dalgleish is the Founding Managing Partner of Exolta Capital Partners and the Founding Chair of the Scottish Business Network. He has a notable track record in the international technology sector and plays a pivotal role in advising and supporting business leaders and entrepreneurs in achieving global success. He is also the Founding Director of Net Zero Nation, a non-profit organisation addressing carbon footprint reduction in SMEs, and actively works to address gender imbalances in business through support for the Association of Scottish Businesswomen and Changing the Chemistry organisations.

Julian Hall

Featured in Forbes, Julian "The Ultrapreneur" Hall is the founder of the multi-award-winning Ultra Education CIC, a social enterprise that uses entrepreneurship to empower children and youth from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Ravinder Hoonjan

Ravinder Gino Hoonjan is the owner and director of Bright Mind Consulting. He is a qualified mindset coach and sports massage therapist, helping people become the best version of themselves.

Ben Partridge

Ben Partridge has spent over 30 years in the IT and telecoms industry and founded several successful businesses. As Head of Learning and Innovation at Derby University, he led the unit to a surplus of £1.2 million and has held previous EIR posts at the University of Surrey and the Satellite Applications Catapult. He is currently Director of Ashby House which supports business accelerators, incubators and growth organisations with a complete programme of business support.

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