Support for Start-Ups and SMEs

Helping Your Business Fly

At Lincoln, we're passionate about supporting entrepreneurs at any stage of their journey and helping to get their business idea off the ground.

We currently offer four main avenues of support to those looking to start or scale-up a business: Sparkhouse, Enterprise, Think Tank, and Student Enterprise.

Our dedicated Enterprise and Innovation Team are on hand to help support you throughout your time with us, and we provide a range of services and guidance to help give your business a boost.

How We Support You

Whether it be through tenancies at Sparkhouse, Enterprise, or Think Tank, or involvement with Student Enterprise, we can support your journey as a business owner in a number of ways

Shows Sparkhouse with videographer

Affordability

We recognise that in the early stages of business ownership, being able to keep costs low is a massive help. We offer staggered affordable rent at Sparkhouse and Enterprise and competitive rental prices at Think Tank. We also offer virtual office spaces for businesses looking to set-up a formal business address.

Shows a mentoring session between two people

Mentoring

We offer business mentoring with all of our physical tenancies at Sparkhouse and Enterprise. Whether you're figuring out those early stages or looking to expand, the free mentoring service can be vital in ensuring that you as a business owner achieve both your short-term and long-term goals.

Woman Networking

Networking

With strong links to key organisations and networks across Lincoln, such as the Federation of Small Businesses, Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership, Business Lincolnshire, City of Lincoln Council, and Barclays Eagle Labs, we are expertly placed to be able to help you integrate into the business community through networking and events.

Having started out with an office at Sparkhouse, before moving to Enterprise and now recently moving into Think Tank, I can honestly say that without the support and guidance from the teams at Sparkhouse and Think Tank I would not still be running a business. The staggered rent was a massive help starting out and the advice from our business mentor gave me the confidence to take the agency forward.

Student Enterprise

Entering the world of self-employment is one of the most rewarding and exciting things you can do, but we know that it can be difficult knowing where to start. At Student Enterprise, we help students and graduates gain the skills and knowledge that ensures they have a strong base to build their business from.

We engaged with 327 University of Lincoln students in the 2022/23 academic year, supported over 85 graduate start-ups and ran over 40 workshops and events. Our flagship event, the Student Enterprise Conference held in February, saw a record number of students attend in February 2024, with over 60 students joining us for the day. Find out more about the 2024 conference.

How We Support University of Lincoln Students and Graduates

Workshops

We hold regular, tailored workshops to help you gain the skills you need.

Mentoring

Our experienced professionals can help you with any challenges you may be facing.  

Funding

We can help you to gain access to seed funding to kickstart your business.

Competitions

Elevate your profile by entering competitions and gaining recognition.

Networking

Meet likeminded people, and experienced professionals who can help guide you on your journey.

Student Start-Up Suite

We have a dedicated space that you can use within Sparkhouse to work from, you can get in touch with us to find out more about usage.

Contact Us

University of Lincoln
Brayford Pool Campus
Lincoln
LN6 7TS

enterprise@lincoln.ac.uk

01522 837 200