University of Dundee set to open centre of entrepreneurship

Elevator, a social enterprise which works across Tayside and Grampian to provide Business Gateway services and help facilitate start-up and growth of new and existing businesses on behalf of the UK Government, has joined forces with the university to open the facility this autumn.

The partnership said that the new centre will combine the needs of entrepreneurial education within the University while providing a ‘beacon of entrepreneurship’, that will be open to both students and the public.

Located close to the edge of the university’s campus, within existing retail space, the 2,500sq ft ground floor space will be transformed over the coming months, with a shared investment from both Elevator and the University to create a high tech, creative space.

Similar to the Aberdeen Elevator Centre of Entrepreneurship, the centre will feature a flexible open plan creative space, with breakout meetings rooms, hot-desks and a mini auditorium.

The centre will also allow for collaboration between individuals and a wide range of organisations across Dundee including - Dundee City Council, Dundee and Angus College, Scottish Enterprise, Business Gateway, Entrepreneurial Scotland, as well as other universities and further education establishments.

Elevator Chief Executive and professor of Entrepreneurship at the University of Dundee, Gary McEwan, believes the ‘City of Discovery’ is on the threshold of entrepreneurial renaissance and there will be a wave of opportunity for individuals and businesses to embrace in the face of the city’s transformation.

He said: “Collaborating with the University of Dundee to open a Centre of Entrepreneurship within the city is an aspiration we have been working on for many years. This new centre in Dundee will follow our best practice and focus on creating an inspiring environment in which budding entrepreneurs, students and supporters of enterprise, can come together to get free advice, generate ideas, receive support, mentoring and network.

“The city of Dundee is in a very strong position to embrace innovation and diversity – with the £1 billion master plan to regenerate and to reconnect the Waterfront to the city centre – there are real opportunities across all sectors - technology, food and drink, tourism and biotechnology – which entrepreneurs can utilise.

“We are committed to helping support and realise ambitions of the city. The Elevator programme offered from the new centre will help challenge aspiring entrepreneurs, their goals, their plans and business ideas, for scale and growth. We will teach entrepreneurial disciplines, best practice for business growth and develop idea generation and entrepreneurial thinking to encourage new business start ups – all of which will boost a city on the verge of major regeneration.”

Professor McEwan continued: “With the support of thought leaders, established entrepreneurs and city partners working together and willing to impart their knowledge and experience via involvement in this new centre, it can only mean that the future of the city is looking brighter.