Are you starting or thinking about starting your own business?
If you have a business idea but are not sure where to begin, or if you want to use your entrepreneurial skills in an exciting and creative graduate role in an innovative company, QIncubator is for you: the perfect testing ground for a project at idea stage or to develop your intrapreneurial skills.
Learn more below...
Acquire high-level entre/intrapreneurial skills
For the first time in QIncubator history, the Enterprise Team have tweaked the Autumn programme to include students who don’t want to start their own business but are interested in learning more about skills-based development, ready for employment.
Knowing where to start can be daunting, which is why this programme will help you define your ambitions, set goals and get you going. This entre/intrapreneur-led, 8-week programme combines enterprise training, expert coaching and peer-learning to accelerate success.
If that wasn't enough, cash prizes will also be available as part of the Peter McOwan Legacy prize.
About the programme
QIncubator takes a lean approach to entre/intrapreneurship, with an emphasis on identifying problems and assumptions, testing them and iterating your business/solution accordingly, as quickly as possible. This is reflected in the programme, which supports you in formulating your business model or employer-led solution and customer value propositions before testing these on potential customers, partners, mentors and industry experts.
Following completion of the programme, you can apply for one of our funding awards: Try It (£500), Grow It and Launch It (up to £3,000) or Build It (£10,000). You can find more information on each on our funding page.
QIncubator is eligible to be listed on your HEAR, meaning you can leave QMUL with an enhanced record of your achievements. The HEAR shows employers an overview of everything you have gained from your time at Queen Mary – a breakdown of modules and marks, and a way to have all your extracurricular activity officially authorised.
That's the first time I've tried to develop my business idea and QIncubator helped me to accelerate my learning significantly. — Maciej Jarosiewicz, School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science graduate
When and where
Applications for the QIncubator programme are currently closed.
More details about when exactly the programme will take place will be made available closer to the time.
Programme structure
Please note: this may be subject to change
Who is this programme for?
This programme is for QMUL students and recent graduates who:
You will need:
But the main objective is for you to be equipped with entrepreneurial skills, knowledge and confidence to either launch your business or excel in a graduate role!
All applications will need to be submitted through QM Careers Hub (Target Connect). Please click here and you will be taken to this webpage where you will be able to start, complete and submit your application form.
If you have just graduated, you can still access QM Careers Hub, however your student details will no longer work and you will need to register for an alumni account. Once you have registered, the Careers team will approve this and merge your existing student account with your new alumni account so you don’t lose any of your profile. If you have any questions, please contact careers@qmul.ac.uk.
What do previous participants say?
“That's the first time I've tried to develop my business idea and QIncubator helped me to accelerate my learning significantly.” — Maciej Jarosiewicz, School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science graduate and currently using their intrapreneurial skills at Kaluza
“QIncubator really changed my perception of what I thought starting a business would entail…the programme covered all the essentials an entrepreneur must be familiar with before starting a business.” – Shafaq Ashraf, Global Development Masters graduate and owner of Breaking Barriers
Discussing your idea with other likeminded entrepreneurs is a great way to share the pitfalls and achievements along your journey and can help alleviate the loneliness that comes with being a solo entrepreneur. – Isaac Greenway-Tambini, Geography with Business Management graduate and owner of Pola Poles
Read more about some of now successful businesses and social enterprises launched by QMUL students
Bootcamps designed to teach you how to develop a business or social enterprise in just three days
An entrepreneurship development programme for later-stage businesses looking to grow