University of Lincoln Named Among Top 5 UK Universities for Student Start-Ups
Research conducted by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) has found that the University of Lincoln is among the top five universities in the UK for student start-ups. The study, titled ‘Intellectual property: Spin-off activities by HE provider, type of activity, metric and academic year’, analysed data from the 2021/22 academic year and earlier, with results dating back to 2014/15.
According to the study, the University of Lincoln placed fifth in the overall list, with 166 student start-ups supported. This places Lincoln as the leading institution in the Midlands region and the second best for universities outside of London.
Speaking on the results, Reece Leggett, Student Enterprise Manager at the University of Lincoln, said: "We are incredibly proud to see the University of Lincoln ranked among the top 5 universities nationally for student start-ups in the academic year 21/22. This achievement is a testament to the hard work and entrepreneurial spirit of our students, and we are committed to continuing to support and nurture their innovative ideas and ambitions."
One of the start-ups supported by the University of Lincoln is Seaweed Culture, run by Luke Smith, a Law student who graduated in 2022 from the College of Social Science. Seaweed Culture involves introducing a micro dose of seaweed into the feed of ruminant livestock, which in turn reduces methane emissions by 90%. The start-up has already won several awards and is set to grow further in the coming years.
Other successful examples of student start-up businesses include The Mysterious Jeweller, an affordable men’s jewellery brand which has begun expanding into fashion boutiques in Lincoln, and CONSTRUCT3D, a cutting-edge business producing the fastest 3D printers available in the UK, with printing speeds of up to 5x quicker than competitors.
Vicky Addison, Head of Business Incubation & Growth, commented: “The Research and Enterprise department, home to Student Enterprise, has played a vital role in establishing our University as a prominent player in the Regional business community. As part of our ongoing efforts to enhance our infrastructure, we are committed to providing a seamless pathway for our student start-ups. Starting from Student Enterprise, our aspiring entrepreneurs can progress on to our state-of-the-art incubation centre Sparkhouse and Think Tank Innovation Centre, where they can receive ongoing guidance and access to premium office facilities.”
Thomas Atkins, founder of Identity Agency, who received a grant from Student Enterprise to start his company commented; “Without the support and funding provided by the Student Enterprise team I don’t believe that we would have been able to grow as a business as quickly as we did. I received a £2,000 grant through Student Enterprise which allowed me to buy the majority of my start-up equipment and also helped with the cost of moving into an office at Sparkhouse. The University of Lincoln offer such varied support for entrepreneurial students, and I would encourage any student who is considering starting a business to utilise the support offered as much as they can.”
The University of Lincoln's Student Enterprise team provides a range of support services for students interested in starting their own businesses, including mentoring, funding opportunities, and access to workshops and events. For more information, visit the Student Enterprise website or follow them on LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter.
