Successful innovators and entrepreneurs require not just a groundbreaking product or service idea, but the necessary environment and support to test their innovation, exploit its potential, attract investment and launch it to the market. Choosing to develop your business in the UK will provide you with access to expertise in all these areas, and so much more.
Do you want to set up headquarters in an entrepreneurial hub like the UK to grow your start-up?
If the answer is yes, the UK Trade & Investment Sirius programme is just for you. UKTI, a government organisation, is running a competition for prospective and budding entrepreneurs to win places on its Sirius Programme – one of the most comprehensive start-up support packages offered internationally, and the best in Europe without requiring equity.
UKTI Sirius facilitates a winning collaboration of innovative start-ups and established multinationals in leading countrywide hot-spots and hubs to accelerate innovation, success and growth – delivering the next generation of successful entrepreneurs and global businesses. It is for those talented individuals who want the UK to be the place to realise their amazing ideas by benefiting from the British tradition of driving innovation.
Eligibility
♠ Applicants must be a Team of either 2 or 3 Co-Founders and/or Directors.
♠ The full Team must re-locate to the UK.
♠ Apply to Sirius if you are a team of International Graduates (BA, BSc, MA, MSc, MBA, MPhil, PhD etc.)
♠ No more than one team member can be a UK Citizen
♠ No more than one team member can be a graduate from before 2012
If successful, teams must:
♠ Transfer the Intellectual Property to their own UK company
♠ Set up their business Head Quarters (HQ) in the UK
♠ Stay at the Accelerators premises for the duration of the 12 months
The programme is aimed at the following:
♠ Graduates who have started a business which is in its early stages and trading for a maximum of two years;
♠ Graduates who have business ideas
Benefits
♠ a 12 month place with a leading accelerator
♠ financial support worth £12,000 per individual for a year
♠ mentoring,
♠ introduction to potential partners, investors, customers
♠ funding access
♠ help to find customers
♠ help to relocate to the UK
♠ Graduate Entrepreneur’s visa – endorsed by UKTI
♠ no loss of equity in your business
♠ recruitment
♠ office space at accelerators
You should:
♠ check that you’re eligible
♠ prepare a 2 minute video for submitting with your application
♠ have evidence you’ve graduated or are graduating
Applications will be judged by an independent panel. Successful applicants will be interviewed by at least 1 accelerator before being offered a place.
If you already have a business, you’ll be judged on:
| Feasibility | Has the concept been validated convincingly? |
| Financial model | Does the financial and commercial model show potential to receive investment? (Can it be profitable and scalable? Is the size of the market big enough?) |
| Team combination | Is the team made up of highly talented individuals that can make this plan happen? Do their skills appear well-balanced and complementary? |
| Marketing Strategy | Has the team shown a clear and accurate understanding of the target market? Does the go-to-market strategy reflect this understanding? |
| UK impact | Is this team likely to have a lasting, positive impact on the UK? Is this business likely to flourish under the Sirius programme? |
If you have an idea, you’ll be judged on:
| Entrepreneurial skills & experience | Has the team shown high entrepreneurial potential? Do they have sufficient commercial and/or technical skills and experiences? |
| Team combination | Is the team made up of highly talented individuals that can make this plan happen? Do their skills appear well-balanced and complementary? |
| Market potential | Is the addressable market big enough? Does the idea have potential to disrupt competition? |
| UK impact | Is the team motivated and well placed to make a lasting contribution to the UK economy? Does the programme offer the right conditions for this team to develop? |
Applications for the UKTI Sirius Programme are currently closed. However you can register your interest by emailing info@siriusprogramme.com
For immigration advice on Graduate Entrepreneur visas please contact us by email at: info@1stcitizen.co.uk
