Support for small businesses
Small businesses play a vital role in driving innovation, investment, and jobs in the region. The University can support small businesses along that growth journey; from initial start-ups to those ready to scale and take their business to the next level.
We offer specialist expertise, training, and access to talent and flexible workspaces in order to give your business all the support it needs to realise its ambitions.
Join our business community in Nexus
Nexus is the University of Leeds’ innovation hub and it provides a community for innovators, entrepreneurs and small businesses who want to benefit from working with the University.
You can become a member of Nexus and access support from our expert team to help turn your big ideas into reality. You can also choose to base your operations in our high-quality flexible office and lab space.
Hear from Paul Hallett, CEO of Vet-AI, one of the most exciting health-tech companies in the UK, about how Nexus has helped them grow rapidly, going from no employees to over 100:
Video transcript: The future of the vet industry – VET-AI
Help to Grow: Management course
Receive in-depth training and mentoring to grow your business quickly with the Help to Grow: Management course.
Aimed at senior leaders in SMEs, the 12-week programme is 90% funded by the government. It includes 50 hours of in-depth training and one-to-one business coaching.
Hear how the Help to Grow course helped Steve Brooke, Managing Director of Anglo Stainless Ltd, plan to expand their business operations and double their turnover:
Innovative Entrepreneurs programme
The University of Leeds and Nexus are leading a collaborative programme funded by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to support local entrepreneurs in building global businesses.
Apply for the Innovative Entrepreneurs programme – we welcome interest from anybody who has a groundbreaking idea.
Small Business Hub
Leeds University Business School supports an active network of small businesses through its Small Business Hub. With access to training, talent and events, it helps you to engage with like-minded businesses and find opportunities for to learn and collaborate.
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) are ideal for small businesses. A KTP allows businesses to access knowledge, technology or skills within the University to resolve a strategically important business issue.
KTP projects are jointly funded by a government grant and the business. An SME (a business with less than 250 employees) would only need to contribute 33% of the total project cost.