Did you know UCLan graduates still have access to many of the university facilities and services? That includes the library, gym, careers advice and business support. Propeller is part of that package, supporting business incubation and start-up activity. If you decide to start your own business after graduation, we’re here to help you with a range of practical workshops, 1-to-1 mentorship, rentable business workspace, competitions and funding support, online modules and networking events.

UCLan is ranked number 1 in the North (and 4th in the UK) for number of graduate start-ups 2019. Pretty impressive, right? Propeller has been running for over 10 years (with a rebrand from Northern Lights in 2017) and is a key part of UCLan’s entrepreneurial focus. We help students, alumni and staff members all the way from idea generation to ongoing business growth.

Business Working Space

If you are just starting out, renting an office can be a daunting expense, which is why many start-ups begin in co-working spaces. The Propeller Hub is one such space available to students and alumni, no matter how long ago you left UCLan. Use of the space includes access to IT, telephony and printing; business support and mentoring; access to specialist facilities; use of a UCLan trading address; meeting space and boardroom booking. There’s a Mac Pro you can book out too! Hot-desking from £20.83 a month and renting a permanent desk starts from £80.83 a month. We offer affordable working space during those critical starting months.

Networking Events

Our Propeller networking events are held on the 2^nd Tuesday of each month. with a range of topics. Open to local businesses, individuals, staff and students, they’re a great way to meet the community. We look for engaging, relevant topics and invite external speakers to give a presentation, with extra time before and after for discussion. The Centre for SME Development also hosts events for local small and medium-sized enterprises, including business breakfasts.

Propeller Workshops

Graduates are more than welcome to attend our workshops, delivered at the Preston campus. Our Propeller Enterprise Programme is designed to cover all the basic elements of setting up a business, with additional bite-sized briefings complementing this offering with additional skills.

Flightpath – Freelance Support

Flightpath is an online resource we have been developing to support people who want to work for themselves. For some, this is as a supplementary income and for others it can be their full-time occupation. With changes to the way businesses operate, self-employment and freelancing are becoming increasingly common, but not everyone feels prepared enough to undertake such work. That’s where Flightpath comes in.  The first module looks at how to use your own skills and attributes to get the most out of freelancing. The first four modules are up and extra content will continue to be added.

Business Coaching

Our team of mentors can offer you 1-to-1 support focused specifically on your personal business needs. They can guide you through idea development, creating a business plan, setting up as self-employed, creating and implementing a marketing plan, procuring funding, managing finances and growing your business.

Awards & Competitions

We are more than happy to help you develop any applications to enterprise awards or competitions. Our own Propeller Enterprise Award is open to recent graduates (graduated in the last 12 months).

Contact information

For more information on any of the above, check out the Propeller website, email teampropeller@uclan.ac.uk, or phone the Propeller team on 01772 895950. You can also come to the office on the 4^th floor of the Media Factory (401) between 9.00am – 5.00pm on weekdays.