The 2007 RSA Flying Start Programme

RSA Flying Start takes off…

A second cohort of recent design graduates, all with a keen desire to set up their own business, have just completed the 2007 RSA Flying Start programme at Manchester Metropolitan University. Organised in conjunction with the National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship (NCGE), the three-day intensive programme, which took place from 16-18 July 2007, was designed to provide participants with all the information and inspiration they need to get their idea of the ground.

The programme builds in plenty of time for networking and for sharing skills, knowledge and expertise with fellow participants. As well as a full programme of knowledge workshops covering everything from  intellectual property and how to find funding to surviving as a freelancer, franchising and dealing with accounts and finance, mentoring formed a central part of the proceedings. Each participant was assigned a mentor to work not only with them during the three-day programme, but to continue for the next 12 months via Flying Start online.

Evenings were devoted to general networking both with other participants and with special guests and experts invited to dinner on both nights. The first evening also comprised a ‘show and tell’ session where participants revealed their business concepts and showed examples of their work. These evenings were also opportunities to hear some inspiring speakers tell their own enterprising stories or provide background to enterprise/innovation in the UK. These speakers included Andrew Summers CMG, Deputy President, RSA who explained the background to the RSA’s role in the Flying Start initiative; Ian Robertson, Chief Executive, NCGE who described the political landscape surrounding entrepreneurship  and in particular, the support NCGE had received from the Treasury in the early stages of setting up NCGE and the Flying Start programmes. Deborah Szebeko, Director of thinkpublic, a public service and communication design agency and who is mentoring some of the participants, also spoke, recounting the early days of her setting up her business.

Encouragement and inspiration also came from the very successful entrepreneurs, Nin Castle and Phoebe Emerson, who only a year ago, were participating in the first RSA Flying Start programme and are now trading with their successful company Goodone – a an ethical clothing company. As well as knowledge and expertise gained from the programme, in January 2007 Nin and Phoebe had won the Trefor Campbell Enterprise Award worth £15,000, donated by this enthusiastic RSA Fellow, to the business idea that had progressed most successfully six months down the line since the 2006 programme. Nin and Phoebe were motivating and amusing in their talk, describing their business (ad)venture, the risks they had taken and benefits they were now reaping from their commitment and hard work. Their business has expanded and they are organising a sourcing and development trip to Indonesia, with a view to becoming a fair-trade business.

This year’s programme was specifically looking for business ideas that took account of ethical principles and delivered some social good. Ideas ranged from community focused projects through to recycled furniture and fashion. 

Several of the participants had previously won RSA Design Directions awards and in many cases were seeking to develop their ideas as the basis for their business. These included Nick O’Brien and Paloma Reed, winners in the 2007 Design Directions scheme’s Inclusive Worlds project for OSCA (Oscillating Sensory Communication Accessory). This is an ambidextrous, one size fits all oscillating wristband for older and visually impaired people which serves as a sixth sense, alerting the wearer when their valuables leave their side via a system using radio waves. Jane Anderson, winner of the 2006 Design Directions sustainable packaging project for her biodegradable Easter egg packaging was also on the programme.