UCL and Camden strengthen partnership for brighter future

UCL hosted top entrepreneurs, small business managers, support providers and funding agencies at a gala event to support projects in Camden and the rest of London last week.

UCL Advances - the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Business Interaction at UCL - joined forces with Camden Council to host the event as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week.

The event also marked the official launch of two new business support projects managed by UCL Advances.

The first of these is the Higher Education London Outreach (HELO) project, a ground-breaking scheme part financed by the European Union to help small businesses access the expertise of UCL and the London Business School through small-scale projects that provide solutions to real-world problems.

Tim Barnes, Executive Director at UCL Advances, said: "We'll be working to identify issues within the community and give people access to support from a network of highly skilled people within these excellent institutions. This is about helping people to prosper and transform both themselves and their communities."

Also launched was the Innovation Central London (ICL) project, which is funded by Camden Council and offers grant support to new, innovative, creative and technical businesses in Camden that need help to get started.

Councillor Andrew Marshall, the Executive Member for Community Development and Planning at Camden Council, said: "This partnership shows how Camden Council is supporting businesses to be more competitive which will create further jobs and wealth in the borough.

"It also complements the work around our £6million recovery fund aimed at helping businesses beat the recession with extra training schemes and procurement projects.

"I'm delighted we will be working more closely with UCL Advances as they have one of the finest centres of learning and innovation centres in the world.

"Together we will provide local entrepreneurs and businesses with extra skills and knowledge to make them more successful."

Mr Barnes added: "With the HELO project and the Innovation Central project, we have been able to complete the range of business-support services we are able to offer, so there is now support for small businesses and start-ups in need of technical problem solving, business advice and small grants to get going - it's a compelling package!"

For more information about UCL Advances or Camden Council follow the links above.

Image: Networking at the event hosted by UCL Advances

Related stories:
Work experience a 'win-win' scenario
UCL hosts third annual 'Seedcamp' for fledgling entrepreneurs