Graduate company wins funding thanks to Plymouth University students' expertise

A graduate entrepreneur is planning to expand his company after successfully working with a team of business students from Plymouth University.

Andrew Prosser, director of Series 41, enlisted the help of 55 first year Business Management students to focus on market research as part of the Inspiring Futures project, run by Plymouth Business School’s Talent Hub.

Andrew, himself a Plymouth University graduate, used information in the students’ reports and pitched his business in a ‘Dragons Den’ style competition organised by the South West Biomedical iNet, which is supported by the European Regional Development Fund.

He has now been awarded a grant of £1,000 from that fund, as well as support from a consortium of organisations, including the University of the West of England, the NHS and Public Health England.

He said: “The Inspiring Futures project is fantastic in nurturing talent and entrepreneurship, providing students with an excellent opportunity to put their education into practice and make a significant contribution to a commercial business. It is invaluable for their employability and, from a business perspective, it has allowed me to develop expertise at a rate I never would have achieved as a relatively new company.”

Series 41, based in the University’s Formation Zone, delivers training to improve employee productivity and performance around health and wellbeing issues.

The company is one of many to work with Inspiring Futures, which enables businesses across the public, private and third sector to get free consultancy advice from students, which in turn contributes to their degree and enhances their employability skills.

Through the scheme since 2011, more than 1,000 students have undertaken in excess of 200 consultancy reports for over 100 organisations, with an estimated value to the local economy of £250,000.

Penny Hele, support officer for Inspiring Futures, said: “We are delighted that the Talent Hub’s Inspiring Futures initiative has been beneficial for Andrew and Series 41, and we are very proud of our students for delivering such successful consultancy projects which have added value to his business. We look forward to working with Andrew in the coming year, giving more students the opportunity to develop their business and employability skills, putting theory into practice.”