The Westminster Enterprise Network, the University’s entrepreneurial community that supports students and recent graduates and bridges the gap between education and industry, is welcoming four new businesses run by Westminster graduates on to the 2021/2022 Westminster Incubator programme.
rPreviously known as the Graduate Venture Accelerator Programme, Westminster Incubator is a 12 to 24-month programme which helps recent graduates and students who are about to graduate to develop and validate their business model; define their customer development strategy; launch and operate and provide guidance on bootstrapping, or navigate sourcing initial investment.
The programme also offers free access to a dedicated co-working space and an exclusive community of peers, mentors and advisors. Participants will be supported through 1-2-1 support and advice, expert mentoring and access to Westminster Enterprise Network’s award-winning enterprise programme of masterclasses and workshops.
The first of this year’s selected businesses is Conscious Coliving, a collective of shared living consultants supporting the global coliving movement, a modern form of communal living. They support coliving operators, developers and investors to create sustainable businesses and thriving co-living communities. Penny Clark co-founded her impact-driven company Conscious Coliving alongside completing her PhD in Urban Studies, which focussed on shared living and environmental sustainability. Talking about joining the programme, Penny said: “I’m delighted to be part of the Westminster Incubator, and I look forward to putting what I learn into practice.”
The second business to join Westminster Incubator was founded by Lidiia Dresch, who graduated from the Fashion Design BA Hons course in June 2019, with her fashion brand MOHEN (mortality of hypothetically existing norms). Lidiia said: “We offer an alternative fashion solution to any women regardless of their cognitive or physical abilities to explore their sexuality in a sustainable way. We believe that any woman should have the means to find her own expression.” She has been exploring the subject within her first collection, which has been shown at London Fashion Week and widely covered in fashion editorials.
Stroy, a 3D configurator widget for product suppliers and manufacturers, is the third business to join the programme. The widget was created by Evgeny Rodionov, who graduated from Professional Practice in Architecture PDip at Westminster. He said: “We connect brands with people making the product selection and buying fast and accessible. The end game for Stroy is to help us make sustainable choices and save money on home improvement projects, materials, and appliances.”
The final business was developed by Evelyn Namutebi who graduated from the Business Management (Finance) BA Honours course in June 2021. Her business, Sure Consultancy & Accounting Services Ltd, started in 2020 and specialises in providing consultancy and accounting services tailored to support self-employed, small and medium businesses and limited companies in the UK. Evelyn said: “The best way to avoid paying penalties is to have proper accounts, filed on time. We use the latest accounting software, giving you access to your account with us 24/7 from your phone, tablet, or computer. Our services include but not limited to: bookkeeping, financial accounting, payroll management, self-assessments, tax and VAT returns, corporation tax and data entry/analysis.”
To find out more about the Westminster Incubator and keep up with the participants’ journey through the programme, follow the Westminster Enterprise Network on Twitter.
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