ABOUT

The University of Bath Innovation Centre (UBIC) is located in central Bath near the train and bus station. As part of the University of Bath’s Research & Innovation Support department.

As part of the global no.1 university business incubator, UBIC provides a unique environment that combines work space, business support and inspiration for high-growth companies and the entrepreneurs that create them. There are tiered membership options designed to meet the needs of innovation driven enterprises going through the stages of growth; from seed to startups to expansion.

Membership options

A residential membership includes flexible office space and meeting rooms as well as access to in-residency business support services. UBIC has a variety of office sizes offering a range of flexible options.

Alternatively a virtual membership offers a business founder an address to register their company, access to the co-working space and the support of the SETsquared network, without the overheads of a permanent office.

Student enterprise and Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) Visas

Many graduates from the University of Bath go on to become world class entrepreneurs and business innovators. UBIC is actively involved in the promotion of student enterprise events and in providing ‘entrepreneurship experience’ days for Bath MBA students.

UBIC is also now an approved centre to support international graduates to build their start-up businesses in Britain by facilitating and supporting Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) visas.

Business support

The SETsquared award winning business support services underpin the incubator’s success as a business accelerator.

Members have regular access to professional advice from in-resident legal, financial and media advisers. Entrepreneurs in residence are also available on an ongoing basis to provide specialist technical and marketing support, as well as being a point of contact between the members and the highly regarded SETsquared mentor network.

UBIC runs a wide variety of events throughout the year including workshops, panels and investor readiness programmes. The Bath Entrepreneurship Programme has an impressive track record in helping participants turn business ideas into investor propositions with a high proportion of graduates going on to evolve their businesses as members.

Innovation and investment networks

The UBIC team recognise the importance of working with other business networks to promote entrepreneurship and to connect member companies to funding opportunities. There a number of organisations that are associated with the Bath centre including the Assisted Living Action Network (ALAN), Bath Geek Girls, Bathcamp, and Low Carbon Southwest.

In terms of investment, the SETsquared partnership offers unique access to an intensive calendar of events and an extensive network of angel investors, venture capital funds, corporates, and grant-funders both locally and nationally.

What members say;

‘We have matured significantly as a company since moving into the Innovation Centre.  Great mentoring has helped us to hone our proposition; the reputation and reach of the SETsquared partnership has helped secure introductions to investors; excellent facilities have helped us focus on our business completely on a day-to-day basis.  I’d strongly recommend any serious start-up business to look into Innovation Centre membership.’  Nicola Chilman, Founder – EZ Education