Who should apply?
We’re looking for ambitious individuals who are committed to becoming entrepreneurs and driving their ideas forward. You should normally be an experienced mid/late-career engineer or tech professional who is seeking a career change. You should have an aptitude for creativity, problem solving and design and be passionate about your innovation and the problem it sets out to solve.
Do I have to be an engineer to apply?
You should have essential engineering or technical know-how to apply to the programme. This can either be through a qualification or engineering employment. You should have technical understanding in the area of your innovation.
What counts as an engineering innovation?
We define engineering in its broadest sense encompassing a wide range of diverse fields. We do not have a preference for any particular sector of engineering. Examples of sectors we support include medtech, cleantech/sustainability tech, automotive, space and satellite, materials, AI, or hardware. If you are not sure if your idea counts, please contact the programme team to discuss.
Do you support software engineering innovations?
We are unable to support software engineering companies or SAAS unless the tech involves a form of innovative/proprietary underpinning, i.e. blockchain, AI or machine learning.
I have already set up a company, can I apply?
If the company you have set up is essentially a shell company, then, yes, you can apply. If you have already started raising investment, then you are likely too late-stage to benefit from this programme. You could consider instead the Enterprise Fellowships scheme or Shott Scale Up Accelerator.
My idea is for an app or website, can I apply?
An app or website is not in itself an innovation, they are methods of delivery. If there is an engineering innovation behind the app or website which could be protected as a form of intellectual property (such as a patent or know-how) then you may be eligible. As a simple test, if another company could easily replicate the app or website once they have seen it then it’s likely not an innovation. If you are unsure, please contact the programme team to discuss.
I wish to set up a consultancy, can I apply?
No. The programme aims to support new solutions which are scalable, whereas a consultancy based upon the specialist knowledge of a select number of individuals is not in this sense scalable, so you will not be able to make the best use of the support on offer. Consultancy may be your plan to sustain your new startup in the early stages, but it shouldn’t be your long-term goal.
How well developed must my product or idea be?
You should already have an idea where the concept is formulated and you have identified a practical application for the innovation (i.e., Technology Readiness Level 2 or above). You should be at the stage where you need to refine your innovation, test the market, and validate your customer base. If you already have an MVP (Minimum Viable Product) or you have more than a few limited sales, you will be too late-stage for this programme.
Are there any regional restrictions?
Yes. You must be resident in the region where you are applying to take part in the programme, or based in a nearby ‘levelling up’ region and able to attend training sessions in one of the stated locations. You must be committed to establishing your new startup in that region of the UK.
What is the time commitment?
The programme will be slightly different in each region. Applicants must be able to commit for six months. If selected for interview, you will be invited to attend two to three online training sessions to work on your project pitch. Following the formal interview process, successful candidates will be expected to attend approximately seven to nine days of training over the course of six months, plus coaching, mentoring and cohort roundtables plus other activities. This is a full-time programme and you will be expected to spend the vast majority of time pursuing the aims of your startup. The grant funding is to be used to support your living costs during your time on the programme.
Do you cover travel and accommodation costs?
For any mandatory programme activities, such as training days, travel costs will be eligible for reimbursement in line with our expenses policy. If you are successful in being accepted onto the programme, you will receive a grant to cover your living costs for the duration of the programme.
Where will the programme be based?
With the exception of the pre-interview pitch boot camps, the programme will be delivered in-region. The cities we will deliver the programme in are Belfast, Cardiff, Leeds, Liverpool and Newcastle. (You will be required to indicate at application stage the region in which you are applying to participate and where you are based.)
How will my application be assessed?
All applications will be checked internally for eligibility by the programme team and reviewed by an assessment panel consisting of Fellows of the Academy and key regional entrepreneurship and engineering stakeholders. Applications will be reviewed against the criteria listed in the guidance notes. Selected applications will then be invited to the prepare for the formal interview stage. At interview you will be invited to present your project plan and take part in a Q&A session with the interview panel who will assess the proposal against the criteria, and also the feasibility of next steps and your project plan. The panel will then select up to 10 candidates per region to progress onto the programme.
Who will have access to my application?
The selection panel is made up of a number of reviewers who agree to a confidentiality agreement before they join the panel. If they declare a conflict of interest with any applicants, they will not have access to that particular application. Members of the Enterprise Hub team will also be able to view the applications. Details of the applications will be kept confidential within the review process.
What happens after the programme ends?
If you successfully complete the full programme, you will be invited to become a Hub Member, and you will continue to receive an exceptional package of lifetime support, including access to our facilities, training opportunities, PR and media support, network of investors, experts, advisors and Academy Fellows.
Are there any fees?
Places on the programme are awarded without charge. We do not charge fees or take an equity stake.
Further queries
For any further queries that are not answered in the guidance notes or the FAQs, please contact the programme team.