For a successful business, you need a viable business idea, the skills to make it work and the funding. Discover whether your idea has what it takes.
Forming your business correctly is essential to ensure you are protected and you comply with the rules. Learn how to set up your business.
Advice on protecting your wellbeing, self-confidence and mental health from the pressures of starting and running a business.
Learn why business planning is an essential exercise if your business is to start and grow successfully, attract funding or target new markets.
It is likely you will need funding to start your business unless you have your own money. Discover some of the main sources of start up funding.
Businesses and individuals must account for and pay various taxes. Understand your tax obligations and how to file, account and pay any taxes you owe.
Businesses are required to comply with a wide range of business laws. We introduce the main rules and regulations you must comply with.
Marketing matters. It drives sales and helps promote your brand and products. Discover how to market your business and reach your target customers.
Some businesses need a high street location whilst others can be run from home. Understand the key factors from cost to location, size to security.
Your employees can your biggest asset. They can also be your biggest challenge. We explain how to recruitment and manage staff successfully.
It is likely your business could not function without some form of IT. Learn how to specify, buy, maintain and secure your business IT.
Few businesses manage the leap from start up to high-growth business. Learn what it takes to scale up and take your business to the next level.
Robert runs the EPSRC funded Research to Enterprise program for research students and staff; an integrated university-wide programme of skills workshops, business mentoring, a popular annual event featuring well known entrepreneurs, an annual off-site residential enterprise school and other events such as Enterprise Futures at Media City. The programme has to date involved thousands of participants and was one of the first of its type in the UK.
He is involved with several biotech start-up companies including Alergenetica, an allergy vaccine R&D company based in Tenerife, Spain which has raised significant amounts of grant and venture capital finance. Between 2005-6 he was based for one day per week at the University of Manchester Incubator Company Ltd (UMIC).
Robert is also a regular writer on entrepreneurship, student enterprise and technology transfer issues and has written both opinion pieces and comments for a number of publications including The Guardian, The Telegraph, Science Magazine, Times Higher Education, Forbes, Pioneers Post, Financial Director, Real Business and Laboratory News. His published academic work includes the areas of biotech start-ups and entrepreneurial intentions among scientific researchers. He has presented his work internationally at conferences including in the UK, USA, Korea, Brazil, Sweden, Ireland, Spain, France, The Netherlands and Poland.
