'The Grad Factor' Launches the Biggest Student Start-Up Prize in UK Hist
'The Grad Factor' in Partnership with Barclays Launches the Biggest Student Start-Up Prize in UK History
A new Government-backed organisation, GradFactor Enterprises, has launched the UK’s first National televised student enterprise awards competition The Grad Factor, in Partnership with Barclays.
Conceived by serial entrepreneur Keith Chaplin-Mabbutt, the competition offers the biggest student start-up prize in history. The ultimate winner will be announced at the Grand Final in London on 11 December 2014 and will receive £10,000 cash for their business plus mentorship from the likes of Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook and PR support services courtesy of Journolink.
The Grad Factor aims to find the best new student start up idea or existing student-run business (less than 12 months trading) and welcomes applications from all UK University undergraduates. The competition is open for first round video entries until Sunday 26 October via the website, www.gradfactor.tv/enter-the-awards. Successful applicants will progress to a week-long Campus event held at Barclays HQ in Canary Wharf, London where they will be put through a number of workshops and business challenges. 5 outstanding finalists will be selected to face the ultimate test - a judging panel of industry experts who will choose the overall winner.
This is the first time that a Government endorsed, national student enterprise competition will be televised and marks a genuine first for UK Higher Education and all current undergraduates. The Grad Factor Grand Final will be exclusively broadcast on the UK’s largest student TV channel SubTV, an interactive TV network that reaches over 1.6 million students across 93 Universities nationwide.
Stephen Lewis, Director of Corporate Communications at Barclays said: “Entrepreneurs are a huge source of economic growth, innovation and job creation. And in the UK they represent a diverse cluster of individuals. New businesses, ranging from tech start-ups to manufacturers and retailers, are pioneering new products and services. From Bristol to Leeds, Cambridge to Glasgow, the economic potential of entrepreneurs is tremendous. But unless this potential is properly harnessed and budding entrepreneurs provided with the skills and resources they need to build their ideas into successful businesses, the UK economy will not flourish in future. That’s why Barclays is proud to sponsor The Grad Factor and looks forward to showcasing the best student entrepreneurs and start up talent across the UK.”
Keith Chaplin-Mabbutt, Founder of The Grad Factor says: The Grad Factor is The X Factor for student enterprise. We want to find our own Google, Yahoo and “Apple-masters” of tomorrow. This is the UK’s first National televised student enterprise Awards competition and provides students with a showcasing platform like no other. I created The Grad Factor to challenge students of Great Britain to tap into an entrepreneurial mind set in order to improve their employability prospects whether by starting out on their own, or by understanding more specifically what they can bring to an employer. It promises to be the biggest and best student start-up talent competition the UK has ever seen.”
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Notes to Editors:
Students can enter The Grad Factor competition for free via the official website: www.gradfactor.tv/enter-the-awards. As part of the entry students must upload a short 60-second video link that describes their business idea or existing enterprise.
Following the deadline for entries, auditions for selected students will take place during November in Manchester, London and Bristol. Those that successfully make it through the auditions will be invited to attend The Grad Factor Campus held at Barclays HQ in London.
The Grad Factor Grand Final will take place on Thursday 11 December 2014 from 1pm at Barclays, Canary Wharf, London.
Photos are available on request.