Also in the news...
Prove your English language abilities with a secure English language test (SELT)
For visa or citizenship applications, you may need to prove your knowledge of English by passing a secure English language test (SELT).
UK and Nigeria Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership arrangement
The Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP) sets out the UK and Nigeria’s priorities for future discussion and cooperation.
Export to the UK: guidance for African businesses
Find out about UK markets and sectors, trade agreements, UK import regulations and taxes, and support for African businesses from the UK government.
Guidance Start exporting to Africa
Find out about market opportunities, trade partnership agreements, support from the UK government, and export regulations and taxes in African countries.
Guidance Start investing in African businesses
Find out about investment opportunities and support from the UK government. Learn how to manage risk, invest ethically, and access guidance on African countries.
Talented graduate entrepreneurs brought to UK
Start ups kick off enterprise careers by Opening the Markets at the London Stock Exchange.
A new Government scheme – the Sirius Programme – which is bringing the world’s best entrepreneurial talent to the UK has today announced the first innovative start ups to gain a place. The seven start ups, made up of 19 young entrepreneurs from 13 countries including India, China, Italy, Germany, Canada, Kenya, New Zealand, and Nigeria will now be able to establish their promising businesses in the UK, helping boost Britain’s enterprise community, creating jobs, and inviting foreign investment.
More than 160 aspiring entrepreneurs from over 30 countries around the globe entered the first round of UK Trade & Investment’s pioneering Sirius Programme, which enables talented graduates with innovative start-up ideas to make the UK their home. Selected by independent entrepreneurship experts as part of a rigorous judging process, the entrepreneurs successful to date come from five different continents between them and will launch businesses in sectors as diverse as sport, energy and health tech.
Their business ideas and inventions include: a one-of-a-kind way of creating green energy by converting waste coffee grounds into biofuel; a low-cost, portable, remote smartphone battery charging solution; and a fraud-reduction device that enables consumers to instantly verify whether a branded product is counterfeit via their mobile phone.
The Minister of State for Trade and Investment Lord Livingston said:
The UK is one of the best places in the world to become a successful entrepreneur and we are committed to helping talented entrepreneurs from around the globe to build their businesses here. The Sirius Programme will back the most talented teams and ensure the UK continues to lead in inspirational start ups and being the first to market with innovations. Looking at the high calibre of entries we have received for this programme, it is clear that Britain is fast becoming the country of choice for talented graduates to start and grow their businesses, which will ultimately help our economy to grow, boost productivity and create jobs, and succeed in the global race.
Tim Brown, a former professional footballer who represented New Zealand at the 2010 World Cup and is now the co-founder of ToBe, one of the start ups that will launch in the UK as part of the Sirius Programme said:
Our aim is complete market disruption – our invention will totally revolutionise the way athletes train. We want to take on the trainer market in the same way my fellow antipodean, and ex-Liverpool FC player, Craig Johnson, turned the football and rugby boot market on its head with the Adidas Predator. Our running shoes are the first in the world to be made from Fitwool – a proprietary woolen fabric – and designed for sockless wear, with no internal seams for an unparalleled level of comfort and performance.
We’re delighted ToBe has been chosen as one of the first start ups to be part of the Sirius Programme. It’s the perfect opportunity to help us fulfill ToBe’s ambitions. Being based in the UK will enable us to start up and develop alongside like-minded entrepreneurs and gain access to world-class strategic advice and support. We can’t wait to meet our Sirius Programme mentors, the accelerator team and to get started.
The teams will receive start up support from the Programme including:
- a 12 month place on one of the best business accelerator programmes
- mentoring
- help gaining clients
- financial support of £12,000 per team member
- visa endorsement.
The enterprises will be 100 per cent owned by the graduate teams, and no equity is taken.
The Sirius Programme aims to attract hundreds of talented entrepreneurs into the UK in its first two years, with each of the resulting business creating new jobs, bringing in foreign investment and making a significant cumulative impact on the UK economy. Advantages of starting up in the UK include access to 500 million customers in Europe (62 million in the UK) and the fact that these consumers tend to be early adopters, keen to test and try new innovations.
The Sirius Programme is open for entries until 15 January 2014. For more information and to apply visit www.siriusprogramme.com