In-depth Dorset knowledge
Financing, Funding and Futures in Dorset
I recently had the pleasure of sharing some in-depth Dorset knowledge by providing a ‘Financing, Funding and Futures’ workshop to several Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) residents of the AUB Innovation Studio.
The AUB Innovation Studio operates as a lab for creative technologies. It offers a nucleus for start-ups and regional enterprises, and is a hub for industry engagement, with a focus on collaboration, high-skills development, entrepreneurship, research, and prototyping.
In return, AUB offers free support back to Dorset small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), startups, sole traders and social enterprises through:
- Access vouchers allowing businesses access to AUB’s world-class facilities, which include SLS 3D printing, CNC routing, 3 and 5 axis CNC milling for prototyping and testing.
- ‘Start-It’ workshops ideal for start-ups, budding entrepreneurs and practitioners wishing to get expert feedback on their idea. A short registration form will need to be completed along with a short proposal of your idea.
- ‘Make-It’ workshops created as highly practical one-day workshops to support design-led research and prototyping needs for industry. These workshops are delivered by AUB 3D designers to help demystify the terminology around digital fabrication and show the steps required to undertake your own prototyping project.
My workshop session was all about the Dorset financing and funding environment, helping them understand:
Dorset economy
What does it look like here and what sector support is available
Finance in Dorset – What financial support is available for various stages of development, from grants to loans, crowdfunding to angel investment
Dorset movers and shakers – Who are they and where to get key news and insight to help grow their organisation
Opportunities in BCP and Dorset areas – How to plug into tender and contract opportunities. How to join the networks and newsletters that are really helpful and will expand their business opportunities
Dorset futures – What financing, funding and future opportunities and risks are coming over the horizon and how to take advantage of these opportunities.
Dorset is losing home-grown talent after graduation. According to the Southern Policy Centre’s ‘Retaining Graduates’ 2019 report, only 16% of students domiciled in Dorset remaining to work in Dorset. Therefore we must do everything to help support them and international graduates who want to stay and grow their business in Dorset.
If you want to know which helpful business support organisations exist in Dorset, then head over to the ‘Dorset Support Organisations’ web page on this site.
If you want any particular in-depth Dorset knowledge, or to know what Dorset funding and financial support is available then please get in touch.
