A new enterprise hub aimed at helping budding entrepreneurs has been launched in Birmingham. Birmingham City University's new STEAMhouse Pre-Incubator is based at Millennium Point and will aim to turn business ideas into reality.
The new business hub forms part of BCU's STEAM offering which adds the arts to traditional STEM subjects of science, technology, engineering and maths to increase innovation. The STEAMhouse project already has two sites in Digbeth's High Street and at the revamped former Belmont Works cycle factory in Belmont Row respectively.
Peter Francis, deputy vice-chancellor (academic) at Birmingham City University, said: "We are committed to providing an opportunity for students and graduates to learn by doing and practice in an environment where they engage with businesses, mentors, leading figures and their fellow peers.
"It's a place where our students and graduates can transition into the world of work and make a positive contribution to the city."
Undergraduate students will have access to hands-on workshops, enterprise programmes, and tailored business advice.
They can also utilise the hot desks, network with professionals and gain invaluable guidance from business support experts.
Master's, PhD and final year undergraduate students, along with BCU graduates who finished their studies in the last 18 months, can enrol on the Pre-Incubator's STEAMhouse 'Hatchery' programme.
The Hatchery programme, which launched this summer, offers participants the chance to earn a £10,000 prize to help launch their own business, arriving at an opportune time with UK university graduates starting 4,000 new businesses each year.
All students and graduates will also have access to The Birmingham Skills for Enterprise and Employability Network which offers a package of intensive start-up support.
