launchpad magaine

LaunchPadKICKSTARTING BRUNEL BUSINESSES

Shout Out UK Gives Young

People a Voice

Cobra Beer Founder Opens the Innovation

Hub

Developing a Brand:

Made in Brunel Speak

Octopus 8 Releases NEW

Game

Opening of

heart attack.indd 3 12/04/2014 10:30

THE LAUNCHPAD TEAM

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I’ve come to the conclusion that entrepreneurs are a lot like journalists. Where the entrepreneur is flexible, the journalist is forever on call, handling impeding relocations and deadlines.Where the entrepreneur takes risks, the journalist is on the front line, undercover, or asking the tough questions. Where the

entrepreneur has tenacity, the journalist continues to write even when their pitch is rejected for the hundredth time. Drink is something that I’d suspect the journalist to favour considerably more, but nonetheless, the relationship between the two vocations is uncanny.

It was therefore surprising when the Launchpad team, a plethora of backgrounds and interests, was at first hesitant to embark on using our skills as journalists to showcase Brunel University’s innovation. And yet what you hold in your hands is testament to the passion of both, entrepreneurs and journalists, and a demonstration of our future innovators and storytellers. And, ironically enough, an assortment of pieces that touch on culture, politics, technology and business.

For the MA Print class, this magazine was an assessed part of their course, but for the Launchpad team which transpired, this magazine was a commissioned assignment taken with strides of professionalism and integrity.

It is often the entrepreneur’s job to produce a product, and I am happy as Editor of Launchpad to be able to present ours. A result of hard work, fast learning and most importantly, working together.

EditorCatherine Chapman @cathapman

Deputy EditorsJessamy Baudains @JessamyBaudains

Phoebe Parke @PhoebeParke

Art DirectorRaya Raycheva @rayaiam

InfographicIsabelle Marchand @IsabelleMvS

Production DirectorDaniel Evans @DanEvans1990

Chief SubAhmad Alowaish

Journalists

Borja García de Sola @Solafer

Charlotte Bufton @cvkbufton

Danni Lin @dannilin2

Deborah King

Manon Schalk @ManonSchalk

Martin Richmond @Martin_Rich_91

All cartoons featured in the magazine have been drawn by David McAndrews, Research Adminsitrator at Brunel’s School of Arts @ DavidMcAndrews

Editor’s Letter

Catherine Chapman

Front and back cover image Octopus 8 Studios

Launchpad is a publication produced by MA Journalism students throughout their 3-month Print module at Brunel University. Working in conjunction with the External Relations team, this year’s issue exhibits Brunel’s entrepreneurs and the University’s new Innovation Hub.

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LAUNCHPAD CONTENTS

The Innovation Hub Issue 3

Director’s LetterThe Innovation Hub is a response to requests from students for a place on campus dedicated to entrepreneurship and enterprise activities. Brunel has a long-established reputation for innovation and as is demonstrated each year - most notably at the Made in

Brunel design showcase, at the Software Engineering and Brunel Engineers shows - our students are buzzing with new designs, concepts and technological advances.

It is only fitting then, that LaunchPad is a student publication, edited, written and designed by our journalism postgraduates. I am very grateful to them for making our new Innovation Hub the focus of this edition.

The Hub is part of the University’s renewed focus on supporting students to develop the skills and aptitudes they need not only to achieve academically, but to fulfil their ambitions in whatever walks of life they wish to pursue. This is a crucial way in which the University contributes to the economic, cultural and social life of the UK and beyond.

It is vital that entrepreneurial students from all across the University should feel that they can use the space and make it their own. We are especially excited about the opportunities the Hub offers for students from different disciplines to work together and develop new ideas. With the support of an impressive line-up of entrepreneurs, business advisors and technical experts ready to do their bit to support our students, the Innovation Hub is destined for a great future. And, as the Hub becomes established, I have no doubt that it will develop in directions that have not even occurred to us yet.

Andrew Ward, Director of Corporate Relations, Brunel University

OCT

OPUS 8 STUDIOS

BRUN

EL ALUMNI

SHO

UT OUT UK

CONT

ENTS

p.16p.10 p.14

Brunel: An Entrepreneurial History ..... Words of Advice ..... Design Showcase .....

Made in Brunel .....Keynote Speaker: Lord Bilimoria .....

Student Businesses ..... The Innovation Hub .....

p.4p.5p.6p.8p.9p.13p.18

Image Andrew Ward | Sally Trussler, Brunel University

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BRUNEL: AN ENTREPRENEURIAL HISTORY

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ENTREPRENEURSHIP AT BRUNEL

1928: Acton Technical College is established.

1957: Brunel College of Technology is created with a focus on the education of technologists.

Isambard Kingdom Brunel was just in his twenties when he returned to England from France to help

his father, Marc Isambard Brunel, in the creation of a tunnel under the River Thames at Rotherhithe.

The construction of the tunnel was a disaster. It suffered delays, collapsed several times – with some workers perishing – and had a huge cost overrun. When it was finally completed in 1843, eighteen years after construction began, it was inaugurated by Queen Victoria.

But then another obstacle appeared. The tunnel was not big enough for carriages to pass through, and thus, abandoned to become an underground city of slums. Nowadays,

the Thames Tunnel is just one more track of the underground network. Despite this fiasco, Brunel did not lose his drive.

A SUCCESSFUL ENGINEER He followed in the footsteps of his father –who had great success in other creations– and became one of the greatest engineers in the history of the United Kingdom.

He built the Maidenhead Bridge, the Wye Bridge and the Royal Albert Bridge; the Box Tunnel between Bath and Chippenham; ships such as the SS Great Western, the Great Britain and the Great Eastern; the well-known Paddington Station, among other civil engineering works that are still in use today.

Brunel took risks. As the chief engineer of the Great Western Railway, he used a track gauge of 7

feet when the standard one was 4 feet 8.5 inches. It was subsequently discarded. He created what is considered the first modern ship, the Great Britain, and one of the first ships to cross the Atlantic using only steam power, the SS Great Western.

Brunel was also the creator of a third ship, the Great Eastern, which after having been defined as a catastrophe, became famous for laying a telegraph cable between Europe and North America. He was a genius of his time and accomplished

great things. All he had to do was try.

ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRITA hundred and fifty

years after his death, the entrepreneurial spirit of Brunel remains alive in

the University that bears his name. Thousands of

students from all around the world are part of the University

community and, as he did during his life even in the hardest moments, they pursue their goals because that is the success of entrepreneurs: those who dare, win. While he never knew it, Isambard Kingdom Brunel was the first entrepreneur of Brunel University.

Those

Who

Dare,

By Borja García de Sola

Win!

1962: Brunel College of Technology becomes College of Advanced Technology. Three years later, building work begins on a new college in Uxbridge.

1966-1968: Brunel University is founded and opened.

“150 years after his death, the

entrepreneurial spirit of Brunel remains

alive in the university that bears his name.”

•

•

•

•

Image Isambard Kingdom Brunel | Brunel University

Borja - - LAUNCHPAD.indd 2 09/04/2014 13:55

WORDS OF ADVICE



• 1997: Brunel University opens its doors to arts, humanities, geography, health, social work, sport sciences and business.

• 2006: Made in Brunel is set up to become a showcase of creativity from Brunel’s School of Engineering and Design. See some of their creations on page 7.

By Manon Schalk

Samantha Symonds, 21, had been dreaming of starting her own business. David Riley, Brunel’s Entrepreneur-in-Residence, believed in her

project, and as a duo, they made The Sneaky Vegetable.

In his spare time, Mr Riley uses his knowledge and previous business experience to help students break into entrepreneurship. “One of the things I try to do is ingest some realism that the business world is made up of normal people with hopes and fears and worries,” he explained. “I don’t tell students their project is a bad idea, that’s not my job.”

Ms Symonds, an English and Creative Writing student at Brunel, turned to Mr Riley after coming up with the idea of setting up a catering company. Thanks to his advice, she learned how to make it into a profitable venture, and after putting the finishing touches on her project, The Sneaky Vegetable was born.

“I wouldn’t have been able to do this were it not for David’s suggestions, and his advice on being professional and, above all else, focused,” she said.

Her “healthy catering company” offers tasty and filling food while serving nutritious meal sizes that are fair and balanced. “Where most ‘healthy’ catering may be focused on calories, our company sees health from the perspective of portions of fruit and vegetables in a meal,” she said.

Brunel and specialist catering provider Sodexo have given the team the opportunity to supply the food at the launch of the Innovation Hub. It will be their first professional event as a company.

Mr Riley takes great pleasure in helping

students like Ms Symonds, using his own innovative background to make their ideas successful. “I have started a business

which failed, and another one which

succeeded. During those processes I learned

a lot. I knew it would be a good idea not to waste this and share it with others,” he said.

Mr Riley first started a permanent recruitment company that he ran for 12 years until he sold it to a big international group. Later, he started two other companies, a state and lettings agency and an engineering recruitment company. He takes his position as a volunteer at Brunel very seriously, always finding a spot in his schedule to help a future entrepreneur.

“I like the idea of being involved in different worlds, work and university. It makes my life more interesting,” Mr Riley explained.

Mr Riley has been Brunel’s Entrepreneur-in-Residence since 2010.As a result of Ms Symonds’s hard work and Mr Riley’s advice, The Sneaky Vegetable is on its way to becoming a great catering adventure.

Image David Riley | Neil Graveney, Brunel University

INNOVATION HUB VOICES

David Riley: Passing on Business Experience

“From the Innovation

Hub I would like to see students being given

advice from successful start-up businesses. Maybe inviting them to

Brunel to give talks and guidance on how they started up and what students can do to achieve the same success. It would be great to actually meet with these people as they can sometimes

inspire you to create a great idea yourself.”

Shahbaz Razak, President, Brunel Economics

Finance Society@BrunelEFS

“There is so much creativity and

enterprise in Britain but it needs help if it is to thrive.”

Chris Summers, Prospective Parliamentary Labour Candidate for Uxbridge and South

Ruislip

“New businesses are the

lifeblood of a healthy, expanding economy: a symbol of aspiration and a source of

jobs. The Innovation Hub clearly demonstrates the ambition and drive young people in this country have to

create a business.”

Sir John Randall, Member of Parliament for

Uxbridge and South Ruislip

PAGES 4 AND 5 - Raya.indd 3 09/04/2014 14:09

DESIGN SHOWCASE

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POWERbreathe is the world’s number one breathing trainer. It’s used to improve your respiratory muscles by strengthening both your

diaphragm and chest in order to reduce breathlessness. In 2000, it was awarded Millennium Product status by the Design Council to British products for “showing imagination, ingenuity and inspiration.” It was also given the honour of being displayed at the Millennium Dome, now the 02 Arena.

Top athletes looking for an edge over their opponents can gain from POWERbreathe. Even those wanting to make climbing the stairs a less daunting task can reap numerous benefits from the product’s influence.

POWERbreathe also has medical uses and is now available via prescription from the NHS, and can be used to treat illnesses such as asthma, emphysema and heart disease.

The mind behind this revolutionary product is Brunel University’s own professor of Applied Physiology, Alison McConnell. Named in 2014 by Science Council UK as one of Britain’s top 100 leading practicing scientists, Professor McConnell spoke about her inspiration for POWERbreathe.

“It didn’t begin as an idea for a product, it started as a research

project. I started to think about the muscles that actually bring about breathing and that led me to recognize that older people get more breathless when they exercise because they have weaker inspiratory muscles. So I thought, ‘Well if they’ve got weak muscles and they’re more breathless, then we make those muscles stronger and that may reduce their breathlessness’.”

Having seen her vision transform into a successful commercial product, Professor McConnell advises up-and-coming entrepreneurs to really think about their products before entering the market. She said, “You have to reflect honestly about whether you’ve got a solution that’s looking for a problem, or a solution for a problem that already exists.”

POWERBREATHE“It didn’t

begin as an idea for a product, it

started as a research project.”

By Daniel Evans

Top Athletes Get the Edge With


• 2011: Entrepreneur Nathaniel Peat wins Brunel’s Alumnus of the Year Award for The Safety Box, a company focused on youth empowerment.

• 2012: Brunel students set up alternative news network Shout Out UK. To find out what they’re doing at the Innovation Hub go to pages 14-15.

• 2013: Centre for Research into Entrepreneurship, International Business and Innovation in Emerging Markets begins at Brunel.

Image Above Alison McConnell; RightPOWERbreathe | POWERbreathe Ltd.

Pages6and7.indd 2 09/04/2014 14:21

DESIGN SHOWCASE



DESIGNING FOR THE FUTUREBrunel University is already an established hub of innovation. Over the years, graduating design and engineering students work towards creating cutting-edge products that look towards the future, filling a need in the marketplace.

Turn the page to find out more about the University’s innovative product brand, Made in Brunel.

Link Gear System by Chris Holloway

An alternative for the chain-and-sprocket gear system, this design enables the mountain biker to change multiple gears with ease, ensuring greater control and an increased ability to adapt to extreme terrains.Image Made in Brunel 2010

Adapt-Air by Richard CoomberWorking in partnership with Avon Protection,

specialists in respiratory aid, Adapt-Air is able to anticipate when a shortage of oxygen is beginning to occur in dangerous work environments. The device’s digital structure allows for the wearer to continue to perform in stressful situations.

Image Brunel University 2013

Robolabs – Lunar Elite by Barney MasonChildren can create their own personalized 3D

action figure with this “one-size-fits-all” design. Using 3D printing technology through Thingiverse.com, toys can be customized and then produced using biodegradable plastic.


• 2013: Former student Duncan Shotton wins two A’ Design Awards for the Duncan Shotton Design Studio in Tokyo, and for a pushpin version of the Pinocchio character.

• 2013: Brunel launches new MSc in Sustainability, Entrepreneurship and Design.

• April 24, 2014: The Innovation Hub opens.

Modular Travel Backpack by Richard Jarvis

This changeable backpack design has a multiuse, enabling the wearer to control weight distribution that allows for better long-term comfort and avoidance of back pain.


Pages6and7.indd 3 16/04/2014 11:42

By Ahmad Alowaish

MADE IN BRUNEL

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In the growing area of innovation, developing a brand is essential in setting yourself apart from the competition. When products are constantly being replaced with

new and better inventions, a brand can last hundreds of life cycles, bringing extraordinary value to the entrepreneurs behind it.

Building a reputable brand that holds together your company’s vision takes hard work, and when simultaneously balancing studies, it takes even more determination.

Since its inception in 2006, Made in Brunel has been one of the UK’s best new creative brands, consistently demonstrating the original ideas behind Brunel University’s design and engineering students. By holding events with industry professionals and notable studios specializing in design,

through to a highly anticipated student-led showcase presented every June, Made in Brunel is making strides in the business world long before graduation.

With an innate passion for their work, but also for the expansion of their collective trademark, Made in Brunel consists of a team of volunteers, many in their final year of learning. These designers aim to create products that have a positive impact, a message expressed regularly within their brand identity.

Each year, a new theme is chosen to inspire products for the annual exhibition, an opportunity to display designs produced by the students throughout the term, and perhaps even, acquire a work contract. The showcase typically has projects encompassing innovative solutions in a variety of areas like health, the environment and human behaviour.

For 2014, the showcase will reflect, “on how our learning experience at Brunel has prepared us for our future endeavors.”

24 HOUR DESIGN CHALLENGELooking for other ways to break into the competitive industry, Made in Brunel brings their originality to a variety of events that aim to establish links with those already working in

the field of design. February 2014 marked the first edition of the

24 Hour Design Challenge, an

entire day of non-stop idea formation and design construction. Under tight time constraints,

150 design and engineering

students worked alongside

internationally renowned companies such as Rolls-

Royce, Lego, Seymour Powell and

IDEO, to face real world tests to their abilities as professional designers.

Not only did the sleepless challenge draw the attention of globally established brands, but it also gave Made in Brunel a chance to promote their talent and vision in company with support from industrial design blog Core77.

THE INNOVATION HUBEncouraging cutting-edge ideas and enterprise, while providing important networking opportunities, is what the Innovation Hub is all about.

As Made in Brunel continues to make their mark in the area of design with a variety of concepts and products suitable for commercial use, the partnership between these two organizations is undeniably bringing further innovation to the University.

Made in Brunel will showcase their products from 12-15 June 2014 at London’s Bargehouse.

For more information about Made In Brunel, visit their website at madeinbrunel.com

Since its inception in 2006, Made in Brunel

has been one of the UK’s best new creative

brands, consistently demonstrating the

original ideas behind Brunel University’s

design and engineering students.

All Images Brunel University

PAGE 17_MIB.indd 3 16/04/2014 11:58

KEYNOTE SPEAKER


Lord Bilimoria: “Entrepreneurship

is celebrated throughout the

country, including at universities.”

Why now is the best time to be an entrepreneur in the UK

It was 1988. With degrees from Cambridge, two recent graduates took their £20,000 plus in student debt and set up shop in a flat in Fulham with Indian food in mind.

Their thoughts were consumed with past dining experiences in the UK’s multitude of Indian restaurants, the taste of saffron infused rice, rich curry sauces and, more importantly, the beer.

But the beer wasn’t right. At least not according to Lord Karan Bilimoria, Founder and Chairman of Cobra Beer, and Keynote Speaker opening Brunel University’s Innovation Hub.

Choosing to use his previous law studies for something slightly more refreshing, Lord Bilimoria has come a long way since his Fulham flat beginnings. With strong determination and a knack for spotting a business opportunity, a unique product was soon introduced to the UK market.

“I wanted to create a beer from India that had refreshing qualities and that would have a globally appealing taste,” said Lord Bilimoria, whose professional achievements also include founding chairman of the UK India Business Council. “Instead of

going into a career, I went my own way.”

Cobra Beer was to replace the typical UK lagers that accompanied spicy Indian cuisine so poorly, an unheard of path that had its share of problems. Importing from a brewer in Bangalore, India, throughout the early 90s, Cobra Beer grew into the preferred drink found in London’s Indian restaurants. It gradually became in high demand, spreading across Britain, bringing its production to both the UK and Europe.

Unlike today, where government schemes and student societies stress the importance of entrepreneurship in the UK, starting a business from scratch used to come with little support.

“It has come a long way in the last decade,” said Lord Bilimoria. “I had huge difficulties with funding. It was a constant challenge to raise money. It’s much easier now. Entrepreneurship is celebrated throughout the country, including at universities.”

Government led programmes like Sirus, a global competition attracting entrepreneurs to the UK, are a testament to the country’s growing

commitment to innovation. The slow recovery out of recession, and expectations for the GDP to rise by 2.7% this year, can all be attributed to the UK’s deregulated, business-friendly economy, low corporation tax and top industry designers.

Statistics released by the government at the start of 2014 showed that creative businesses outperformed all other major sectors, having grown by 10% at the height of the recession in 2012. The importance of instilling entrepreneurial ventures is vital for future market expansion and job creation.

Despite the lack of funding support at the time, Lord Bilimoria was strong-willed, a quality needed in entrepreneurs no matter what the era. Cobra Beer is growing into a global brand, now entering the UK’s bars and supermarkets. Its motto to “aspire and achieve against all odds with integrity” is a reflection of its unsure start and demonstration of entrepreneurial commitment.

“Success is not a destination. Entrepreneurship is a journey.”

Image Lord Karan Bilimoria

By Catherine Chapman

Borja - Page 16 - LAUNCHPAD.indd 2 09/04/2014 15:46

OCTOPUS 8 STUDIOS

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Brunel’s resident game designers talk about Oddlight, making it in the gaming industry and more...

Game design final dan.indd 2 12/04/2014 10:05


By Martin Richmond

Octopus 8 Studios

Gaming is an industry that’s packed with money spinning franchises and some truly brilliant games. Successful

products ensure the companies behind them earn incredible amounts of money. In 2013, it was estimated that the market totalled almost $93 billion.

Games come in all shapes and sizes, from the hugely popular games on Playstation and Xbox, to the intensely played mobile recreations such as Angry Birds. For Octopus 8 Studios, there is an ambition to create new games and help nurture innovative design in order to breakthrough the very competitive industry.

gaming market and, for Octopus 8 Studios, there’s an unwavering desire to help new, up-and-coming talent

make their mark in the industry. The company was included in

Develop Online’s 2013 Top 100 Most Promising European Gaming Start-ups. “Getting a hat tip from Develop, as they are a big organisation who do

some great work, is fantastic and a real credit to everyone

involved,” Mr Cox said. Right from the get-go the company

made a decision to strike out on their own. “We didn’t want help from anyone else,” said Mr Cox. It was a brave move to launch a company without receiving any funding, but one that is paying in dividends.

Chris Cox, Octopus 8’s chief operating officer, is a lecturer in Games Design at Brunel University. Previously completing an MA in Games Design at Brunel, Mr Cox has been a gaming enthusiast for years. “The games industry is a passion, almost a vocation,” he said. “I have played games since I was a child. It’s an area in which I always wanted to get involved.”

It’s difficult to stand out in the

OCTOPUS 8 STUDIOS

Games Design complete.indd 3 12/04/2014 10:10

Getting any sort of recognition in an overcrowded industry is tough. As such, the company have in their midst Rich Barham, the chief executive officer who has worked with Blizzard and Riot Games, and is currently working for the Hitman franchise in Copenhagen.

Even with the experience of Mr Barham in their ranks, Mr Cox recognises the difficulties in rising to the top. “You just have to look at the App Store to see how many options people have,” he said. “Getting that recognition is the biggest challenge we face, and it’s an ongoing one.”

So far the company have launched one game, Oddlight. The objective for the player is to avoid the jaws of hungry spiders and use powers to vanquish foes. The game is currently available on iTunes and Android devices. “Oddlight is really unusual, it’s different. It’s important to have some titles under your belt and to get yourselves going,” Mr Cox said.

Octopus 8 Studios have a number of upcoming projects in the works that are under close wraps, which they hope will be released in the coming months. The company is also offering internships to Brunel Games Design students for summer 2014. These internships will be on offer to twenty students for three months. The students will design games in the Brunel Games Labs with the help of gaming industry experts and people from Octopus 8 Studios.

For any upcoming entrepreneurs, the advice from the Octopus 8 team is to work really hard. With lots of hard

work and effort come great things. On top of this, teamwork and having a strong chemistry with work colleagues is something that helps immeasurably.

“It is important to be supportive of each other and having a solid plan. We all want to be as good as we can. We want to work together,” said Mr Cox.

With their solid team, and their first game in the market, Octopus 8 Studios are certainly an example of a successful Brunel-based business.

“You just have to look at the App Store to

see how many options people

have. Getting that recognition is the biggest challenge

we face and it is an ongoing one.”

12 LaunchPad

OCTOPUS 8 STUDIOS

All Images Octopus 8 and Oddlight Game | Octopus 8 Studios

Games Design complete.indd 4 09/04/2014 15:42

STUDENT BUSINESSES


By Manon Schalk

By Martin Richmond

Innovative CampusOnline Bazaar

And The Band Played On

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Brunel Business School student Archit Gupta has set up Book Bazaar, an innovative website for students to sell or buy used

textbooks on campus. Mr Gupta recognised that students

were spending vast amounts of money on books that they would only need temporarily. Most will be thrown away, or donated to charity shops, causing the next cycle of students to simply repeat this expensive and wasteful pattern. His website enables students to get in contact with eache other in order to exchange books on campus. His team, comprised of five other business students, is currently in the process of making a mobile app that should be released soon. They hope this will make the whole system more student-friendly and easier to use on-the-go.

For the moment, the subscription to Book Bazaar is free, part of Mr Gupta’s

strategy to increase its use by textbook hungry consumers. Additionally, the site forgoes any commission on sales.

“We are planning to charge for subscription once a significant portion of Brunel students are using the Book Bazaar services,” said Mr Gupta.

Compared to established website retailers such as Amazon or eBay, Book Bazaar offers better value, while also allowing students to see the books before buying them.

The 21-year-old MA student started his business to make life easier for

the average student, already carefully counting their pennies. Though he doesn’t plan to work full time on the website, he is already thinking about

expanding the current team to focus on further developments.

In the next ten years, Mr Gupta hopes to develop similar websites at different universities throughout the country.

You can find Book Bazaar at bookbazaar.com

“Definitely a service Brunelians should check out.”

- Mike Read, Brunel Student and

Current Userof Book Bazaar

Music is an art form that can transport us to far away places, inspiring us in many different ways. Incredible

music exists as a backdrop to other mediums, from television to theatre, and all the way to the big screen. It is exactly this passion for film music that prompted Michael Spence to set up the Brunel Choir and Orchestra Society.

While studying Conducting and Instrumental at Brunel, Mr Spence

noticed that there was no society specialising in film music. He used this chance to set up the Choir and Orchestra Society in September of 2013, with a total of thirty members.

The group is now well-established here at Brunel, with film music being their forté. Since it’s formation, Mr Spence has put on concerts all around the University. The concert for One World Week, which he described as “explosive”, sold approximately one hundred and fifty seats.

Mr Spence’s advice to all budding

entrepreneurs is to have grit and determination. “You should never give up. You have to be resilient, have to overcome the hurdles. You have to have a relentless drive all the time.”

The importance of having an organised framework within your business is another immensely important aspect that Mr Spence stresses. “I have a fantastic committee here, everyone is keen and they are always willing to help. It is essential to have a good structure within your business.”

Launchpad page 13 MANON.indd 2 09/04/2014 16:04

SHOUT OUT UK

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By Phoebe Parke

using journalism and using current affairs,” he added.

NEW APPROACH TO POLITICSWhen Shout Out UK says politics, they don’t necessarily mean David Cameron. Shout Out UK uses their website, newsletter and school visits to educate young people about what’s going on in the world, encouraging them to get involved in politics on both local and national scales.

Deputy Director Marsha Thompson, 22, shares her partner’s vision in more political participation by a younger generation in the UK.

“Your school uniform is politics, the way your school is run is politics,” said Ms Thompson. “If you get involved you can make a difference and change things for you and the future generation. For the generation that feels voiceless, this is your chance to speak,” said Ms Thompson.

ENTREPRENEURIAL MINDSETMr Bergamini and Ms Thompson are both balancing their entrepreneurial endeavours with their studies at Brunel. They met in a lecture and once Ms Thompson heard about Mr Bergamini’s plans for Shout Out UK, she could not wait to join the project.

“Matteo is a people person. He’s

driven, goes for what he wants and seeks out every avenue. He is a great entrepreneur,” she said.

Giving a Voice to the Voiceless Generation

Online news source Shout Out UK is on a mission to report on issues ignored by mainstream media.

And they’re doing it through Brunel University’s Innovation Hub.

Founded in July 2012 by Brunel student Matteo Bergamini, 21, Shout Out UK is one of Britain’s fastest growing alternative news networks, with a global community of over 4,000 journalists and 25,000 newsletter subscribers.

As established news outlets develop habits of inaccurate reporting, law breaking and swaying public opinion for political advantage, Mr Bergamini thought something new was needed.

“Shout Out UK is all about getting young people engaged in the political process in the UK,” said Mr Bergamini, who was previously deputy director of the global issues think tank Civitatis International. “Only 40% of young people vote and that’s why most government policy focuses on pensioners and young people are left with huge debts.”

“When we first started we found that young people are very apathetic towards politics and society in general. What we’re trying to do is get them more engaged in politics by

SHOUT OUT UK:

“Your school uniform is politics,

the way your school is run is politics. If

you get involved you can make a

difference and change things for

you and the future generation.”

Pages14and15.indd 2 30/04/2014 11:35

The Politics and Sociology student wants to go into politics herself and runs the events side of Shout Out UK.

“What makes us different is that we also hold events for young people. Last week we had Parliament Week and we got young people together into dance groups. Instead of saying to them ‘It’s all about politics’, you can get them involved in things and show them that politics is linked to everything in their lives,” she said.

The entrepreneurial pair sees the lack of historical context as the primary reason behind why many issues around the world, like the war in Syria, seem “unfixable”. They aim to create an understanding between current affairs and the history behind each issue through stories not normally on the mainstream media’s news agenda.

INNOVATION HUBFor the past few months Shout Out UK has been using Brunel’s Innovation Hub as a space to expand and work on their project.

SHOUT OUT UK


4 TOP TIPS FOR SUCCESS

We asked some of our favourite entrepeurs for their tips on getting to the top... and staying there.

“Have a very clear and realistic vision. If you don’t know the specifics of your

brand inside and out, you will be seen as flaky

and unprofessional.”

Hayley Doyle Founder, Hayley’s Comet Theatre

“An entrepreneur comes up with solutions to problems. You

hear a lot about ‘entrepreneurial thinking,’

and I think at the centre of that is problem solving.”

Elizabeth Cawein Founder, Signal Flow PR

“Do not let anything demotivate you because all you really need is

to believe in yourself and your business idea.”

Archit Gupta Founder, Book Bazaar

“Entrepreneurs are people who come up with ideas and make them happen.”

Lord Karan BilimoriaFounder and chairman, Cobra Beer

“The Innovation Hub has really helped us, simply because we have a room where we can coordinate our activities and operations. It also gives us a place to brainstorm and do interviews. We’re excited to see the Hub expand.”

“From a networking point of view the Hub is a great place for us to be, as well as serving as our own space to work,” Ms Thompson added.

The pair also uses social media as a means to reach out, forming a solid network of active individuals. “Almost every young person is connected in some way be it via Twitter or Facebook. Social media has really helped us reach young people,” Mr Bergamini said.

Shout Out UK operates in over 100 countries, covering worldwide news stories without censorship or preference. It aims to create a news network that is inclusive, independent and gives a means of expression to the voiceless generation.

For more information visit shoutoutuk.org

1

2

3

4Image Matteo Bergamini | Neil Graveney, Brunel University

Pages14and15.indd 3 16/04/2014 11:46

BRUNEL ALUMNI

LaunchPad16

Yasmin Selena Butt, 40, is not only a successful writer, she is a self-publishing entrepreneur. Having formerly worked in the

Maldives as an English teacher and as a music journalist for The Times, Ms Butt has now turned her attention to fiction.

As competition for publication through traditional publishing houses remains fierce, it’s easy to see why more authors are choosing to go solo. Ms Butt graduated from Brunel in 1995 with a BSc in Politics and Modern History and is now setting up a publishing company of her own, Venus Fiction. Her first self-published novel, Gunshot Glitter, is a contemporary crime drama-come-love-story, which was shortlisted by The Guardian as one of the most popular self-published reads of 2013.

WHY SELF-PUBLISHING?When it came to publishing her own novel, Ms Butt wanted creative control over the entire process. “I learned from two best-selling writers that I was unlikely to get to the level I was seeking via the traditional publishing process.”

Of course, self-publishing comes with its own obstacles. “The biggest practical challenge is time. As a self-publisher you are your own team.”

“I don’t think it’s hard to set up a business, but I do think it’s hard to make one work, make one succeed. You need more than just a great idea. You need to be smart, savvy, hard-working and willing to let people help you.”

“Self-education is a must,” she added. “It’s easy to find advice on the Internet and social media. There are hundreds of blogs and companies that share knowledge and expertise for free. Also, there are services willing to take on aspects of self-publishing that a writer might struggle with, such as formatting eBooks, designing book covers, proofreading, editing, distribution or sending press releases – for a fee. You have no excuses. Get browsing, ask questions, build relationships and always give back. But above all, have good manners.”

Graduate Entrepeneurs Speak Out

BRUNEL MEMORIESMs Butt made the most of her time at Brunel, quickly taking on the role of arts editor at the student-led publication Le Nurb. “I wrote a lot of pieces during my degree, which was wonderful for me as a writer.”

In fact, her time at Brunel still influences her writing. “I’ve got a work in progress where the male lead is very reminiscent in some ways of the kind of guys I came across on campus.”

THOUGHTS ON THE INNOVATION HUBAccording to Ms Butt, Brunel’s Innovation Hub is “absolutely brilliant.”

“Graduating in the current economic climate is tough,” she said. “To have something like the Innovation Hub to help support students who are heading out into the world with fresh ideas is great. Giving them the confidence and dynamism, the chance to develop ideas and meet the right people is a proactive, positive thing. It sounds exciting.”

Head to amazon.co.uk to buy her novel or find out more at yasminselenabutt.wordpress.com

By Jessamy Baudains

“You have no excuses. Get

browsing, ask questions, build

relationships and always give back.”

Brunel was only the beginning for these successful entrepeneurs, who have turned their passions into lucrative business careers.

Images Above left Yasmin Selena Butt; Above Gunshot Glitter cover | Yasmin Selena Butt

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BRUNEL ALUMNI


“Some people love football. Some love food. But music and entertainment are my thing,” said Sam Ajilore, the creator of renowned entertainment website That Grape Juice.

BBC One Xtra recognised That Grape Juice as the UK’s Number one Urban blog and one of the most popular on the net worldwide.Mr Ajilore set up the website in 2007 when he was in his first year at Brunel, studying for his BSc in Media & Sociology.

He and his team of five have interviewed major celebrities and published ground-breaking entertainment stories and reviews. With more than 60,000 visits a day, That Grape Juice is a perfect example of entrepreneurial success as a result of dedication, commitment and enthusiasm. Find out more at thatgrapejuice.net or follow @ThatGrapeJuice

By Danni Lin

Hayley Doyle, 33, is the founder and artistic director of Hayley’s Comet Theatre Company in Dubai. Graduating from Brunel in 2012 with an MA in Creative Writing, Ms Doyle wasted no time to launch her unique business in January 2013.

Her theatre company is extremely forward thinking. “We run creative writing workshops for children

and adults here in Dubai, and inspire many women from the Arab community to write and express themselves.”

Before studying at Brunel, Ms Doyle, a performer herself, had already started her own theatre company with fellow actors in the UK, performing at regional theatres, as well as the Edinburgh and Brighton Festivals.

After moving to Dubai in 2009, she quickly turned her business vision into an entrepreneurial reality. “The great thing about Dubai is if you have a good idea, people will listen. This is a new country, just 42 years old, and it is ready for any kind of innovation.”

“I had a lot of ideas and felt that they were swamped with the rules and restrictions of working for somebody else. The only way to fix that was to go it alone.”

The new Hayley’s Comet show, which features songs from Blood Brothers and Little Shop of Horrors, will run at The Madinat Theatre in June 2014. Find out more at hayleyscomet.com

Elizabeth Cawein, 29, is the CEO and founder of Signal Flow Public Relations, a boutique music publicity and marketing firm in her hometown of Memphis, Tennessee. She graduated from Brunel in 2008 with an MA in Contemporary Music Studies.

In 2011, she founded Signal Flow PR with just two clients. Her portfolio now includes Archer Records, the Rock’n’Soul Museum, New Daisy Theatre, Myla Smith and Chris Milam.

“I never imagined I would be a business owner. Signal Flow pretty much happened to me – I was working for a non-profit company in Memphis that focused on equipping independent musicians to make money from their art. I discovered what I loved most was working with artists and helping them with media, marketing and branding.”

In today’s music industry anyone

can record, release a record or create a Facebook fan page. Ms Cawein believes, “being an artist means being an entrepreneur,” where artists are able to make a living in the industry without being signed to a label.

“Entrepreneurial culture is growing and that it doesn’t always look the way that you might think.”

Find out more at signalflowpr.com or follow @SignalflowPR

Image Hayley Doyle | Tonya Colson Photography

Image Sam Ajilore with Toni Braxton | That Grape Juice

Sam Etherington, only 24, has already won the Sir James Dyson Award for promising, new design engineers.

He has also been given a place in Semta, the engineering hall of fame in te UK.

While studying Industrial Design at

Brunel (2009-2013), Mr Etherington began working on the idea of a renewable wave power generator, which eventually led to his award-winning product.

Unlike current wave power technologies, his niche product is more efficient in turbulent seas, absorbing energy regardless of wave direction.

Mr Etherington received £2,000

from the James Dyson Foundation as part of his award to carry out more tests.

He joins Barnes Wallis, Isambard Kingdom Brunel and George Stephenson in the Engineering Hall of Fame.

Mr Etherington’s work was part of the 2013 Made in Brunel showcase.

By Charlotte Bufton Image Sam Etherington | Made in Brunel 2013

Image Album covers Myla Smith, Hiding Places; Motel Mirrors, Motel Mirrors | Signal Flow PR

jessy ex student pages.indd 3 09/04/2014 16:41

SECTION

Audience: Under and

Postgraduates

Learn entrepreunerial

skills

Venture Program

What will take place in the Innovation Hub?

Teamwork

One to one

bespoke support

Guest speakers

Workshops

Business Plan

Sales

Pitching Branding

Starting their own business

Find a niche in the market

How much money do you need

Get new

clients

Strip your business to the

minimum

Meetbusiness mentors

Meet other departments

Networking

Investors

Founders

Lenders

Clients

INNOVATION HUB

LaunchPad18

“I have a plan and now I know

where to find help and advice,”

Kasha, 22

“I’m glad Brunel encourages

entrepreneurial initiatives,” James, 33Learn more at www.brunel.ac.uk/innovationhub

A space for undergraduates and postgraduates to develop their own business ideas, undertake projects with students from other disciplines,

learn about innovation and obtain entrepreneurial skills.

What are Brunel students

saying?

Graph.indd 2 09/04/2014 16:51

SECTION

Audience: Under and

Postgraduates

Facilities

Venture Program

£5000 for successful business ideas

4 Workshops

Starting their own business

Collaborating with other students

Learning about entrepreneurship

Access to books and information

Free office space

TrainingInnovation

Process

Investors

Founders

Lenders

What is actually feasible

What makes your

business unique

INNOVATION HUB


70% find the market difficult for launching a

business

44% say they want to set

up their own business

83% would like to get

more advice from their university

What students in the UK think about entrepreneurship

9%of the businesses

launched between 2002 and 2012 have

survived

In 2012, there were 4.8 million businesses in the UK.

Between 2002-2012, 2.6 million businesses were launched in the UK. 2.4 million folded.

98% of all UK based businesses are

micro businesses

A space for undergraduates and postgraduates to develop their own business ideas, undertake projects with students from other disciplines,

learn about innovation and obtain entrepreneurial skills.

Brunel University, Innovation Hub: A Discussion Paper, February 2013.

Graph.indd 3 09/04/2014 16:52

Innovation HubYour Facility.

Lecture Centre (LC003)Brunel University

Kingston LaneUB8 3PH

@Brunel_InnovHub

facebook.com/Brunel.Innovation.Hub

01895 267423

[email protected]

heart attack.indd 2 12/04/2014 10:28

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