Queen’s University Belfast, Enterprise SU

Enterprise SU helps Queen’s students develop the enterprise skills they need to start their own business or secure their dream job.  We offer a wide range of enterprise support services to students from any degree pathway or level, including;

Business 1-2-1

We offer a free and confidential 1-2-1 advisory service for students at any stage of their entrepreneurial journey.  Students can book an appointment through our website and take advantage of the expert advice and support we have on offer such as generating ideas, sourcing support or creating a business plan.

The Hatch

‘The Hatch’ is a dedicated co-working space in the Students Union for student start-ups.  Students who use ‘The Hatch’ have free access to; guidance from our expert advisers, desk space, meeting areas, Wi-Fi and will benefit from sharing the space with like-minded and creative students.

Innovateher

Innovateher is a 12 week entrepreneurship programme for female students. The programme is designed to develop entrepreneurial skills and business ideas and covers areas such as marketing, leadership, pitching, finance and idea generation.

What’s the Big Idea?

Our ‘What’s The Big Idea’ competition encourages a wide range of students to get involved in entrepreneurial activity at Queen’s.  With a prize pot of £2,800, 10 prize categories, sponsored awards and entries from all across the university, ‘What’s The Big Idea’ is a popular competition among the student body.

QUB Dragons’ Den

Students with more developed business ideas are invited to enter Dragons Den and compete for a prize pot of £15,000.  Students who submit successful applications will undergo mentoring in order to pitch their idea to an expert panel of ‘dragons’ in the hope of securing future investment.

Belfast Enterprise Academy

In partnership with Belfast City Council, Ulster University and Belfast Met, this intensive business support programme is for students who are serious about running their own business. The programme guides a community of student led start-ups with similar ambitions of becoming entrepreneurs. Over 70 student led start-ups have emerged from the BEA programme over the past number of years.

Global Entrepreneurship Week

Enterprise SU organises and co-ordinates a range of annual events and workshops to take place during Global Entrepreneurship Week including networking, training and creative workshops.

Make it Happen Fund

Launched in 2019 the ‘Make it Happen Fund’ exists to support students who are currently working on a business idea but are in need of some funding to make it a reality.  On submission of a successful application, students can be awarded grants of up to £500 to launch, grow or expand their business.

May Ball

The May Ball is a black tie event, which takes place on an annual basis at the end of Semester 2.  The event provides Enterprise SU with the opportunity to showcase and award our entrepreneurial students and to thank our support networks, both within Queen’s and externally.  The May Ball consists of student quick pitches, a banquet dinner, awards and prizes and a charity raffle.  Every year around 100 people attend from across the University and over 1K is raised for our chosen charity partner.

There’s more…

Queen’s students are also supported in entering a wide range of external competitions such as Santander Universities Entrepreneurship Awards, Invent, Pitch to Pros and Pitch at the Palace.  Enterprise SU also support academics in their deliverance of entrepreneurship modules/activity by running a ‘Let’s talk Enterprise’ forum.  Alternatively, ‘Startup Fest’, launched in 2018, is a festival of entrepreneurship open to all Queen’s students, showcasing entrepreneurship and highlighting the work of Enterprise SU.

You can read about our success stories and highlights here: www.qubsu.org/EnterpriseSU/Highlights/

Get in touch, we’d love to hear from you:

Judith Maguire, Enterprise SU Manager

Tel: 028 9097 1286

Email: j.maguire@qub.ac.uk

Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/enterprisesu/

Instagram: www.instagram.com/enterprise_su/

Newsletter: www.qubsu.org/EnterpriseSU/Newsletter/