The Incubation Centre

What is an Incubation Centre?

Students want more from their university education than just academic degrees. They want to launch businesses, develop new products and start social movements. The ‘Incubation Centre’ is an ideas sharing platform and physical networking space on the university campus.

This centre would focus on bringing students from all departments and faculties togther. It will be equipped with everything students will need to create start-ups and support existing businesses. By connecting with local businesses and providing a working space, the centre will create equal opportunities for internships and placements after graduation.

Incubation centres teaches and promotes innovation. And you best believe it, innovation is an important employability skill today.
Prestige - in 2014, ARU was awarded "Entreprenurial University of the Year" and with an Incubation Centre, ARU can reclaim that title again.
Thanks to the VP's campaign, the importance of entreprenuership is pushed through at Anglia Ruskin University again. We really hope he succeeds in his campaign.
Jointly written with ARU Alumni

Both the University and Students’ Union are extremely excited by this programme of work and are fully committed to providing an enterprising future for all our students.
Yvonne Barnett (Deputy Vice Chancellor Research and Innovation), Prof Gary Packham (PVC and Dean of the Faculty of Business and Law) & John Valerkou (Students' Union Chief Executive)

Campaign Timeline

Jun 2020

RESEARCH

Understanding & analysing available enterprise support in the University.

Survey to test the demand for Incubation Centre.

Feeding the survey reports and research to the university.

Inviting university ket staff in a student focus group

Sept 2020

PLANNING

Drafting the proposal on Incubation centre in context of ARU.

Identifying the key decision makers.

Setting up of university-Students’ Union joint working group.

Getting approval from the university.

Dec 2020

PROJECT GREEN LIGHT

Campaign win / Project approved – Announcement

Start of piloting the Incubation centre.

Hiring Interns staff for the project.

Getting external incubation centres reports and recommendations.

May 2021

CURRENT STAGE

External organisation report, analysing ARU enterprise activities.

The Big Pitch 2021 report to test the demand for the Incubation Centre.

Concluding the pilot phase.

2021

NEXT STEPS

Getting Funds ready for the project.

Identifying space on campus.

Hosting Student Focus group.

Passing the project from the university high level meetings.

Including concern stakeholders from across university.

Designing & building plan for incubation centre.

Getting Governance structure ready.

All approvals in place (internal / external / government).

Under-construction of the centre.