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East Midlands to host UK’s first Bio-Entrepreneur School

30/11/2006

Nottingham, UK: QED Consulting teams up with BioCity Nottingham and Greater Nottingham Partnership to run the UK’s first Bio-Entrepreneur School in February 2007.
Martijn Mugge (left) with Glenn Crocker

Turning bio-scientists into business gurus is the long-term goal of the UK’s first QED Bio-Entrepreneur School which will run from 26th to 28th February 2007 in Nottingham. Just 30 free places are available on this three-day intensive programme for bio-scientists and technologists who want to develop their entrepreneurial career. Interested applicants from across the UK can log onto www.bioentrepreneur.co.uk to find out what they need to do to be considered for the School, the first of its kind.

BioCity Nottingham, the healthcare and bioscience innovation and incubation centre, will host the school which is supported by East Midlands Development Agency (emda) through the Greater Nottingham Partnership. Dr. Glenn Crocker, chief executive of BioCity believes that an environment conducive to networking and building potential partnerships will give the aspiring Bio-Entrepreneurs a head start: “Many of our tenants have found ways of collaborating, especially where complementary skills are needed to make a venture work. Of the 30 people who attend in February, I have no doubt several will stay in touch as their ideas develop.”

QED Consulting, the specialist business consultancy, has developed the School which will be delivered by seasoned entrepreneurs and business professionals. It is designed to provide an injection of commercial reality and to help delegates explore their entrepreneurial potential, develop essential enterprise skills and overcome confidence barriers to starting in business in this very specialist sector.

Martijn Mugge of QED Consulting says: “Our search and selection for the Bio-School will be wide but rigorous. We want bio-scientists in the healthcare, medical, agriculture, marine and industrial areas, whether pre-start or early stages, to consider joining us if they want to develop their business potential.”
All elements of the School are funded by the Greater Nottingham Partnership and emda.

John O’Reilly, emda’s Business Support Director says: “This is a great opportunity for entrepreneurs working within this particular field to link in with experts in a supportive environment to turn their business ideas into a commercial reality.  The new Regional Economic Strategy, published in July 2006, recognises the importance of enterprise in creating a flourishing region where greater economic success depends on globally competitive businesses.  We’re pleased to support this project and wish those who will be involved every success.”

Dr. Steve Jones, Principal Patent Attorney of Adamson Jones one of the School’s corporate partners: “It will be so important to help participants understand and then protect the true value of their ideas. If they go away knowing about the key issues confronting bio-science start-ups, and where to go for the crucial professional advice they need, we will have done our job.”

Further support is being provided by GxP International (gxpi), specialist consultants to the biotechnology-industry. Mark Stevens, Managing Director of gxpi says: ”We are proud to be sponsoring this event and understand the true value in terms of the great technical, financial, commercial and networking experience it will provide. No doubt it will help those involved make better, faster and more thorough business decisions and could just make the difference between a good idea and a great business.”

Visit www.bioentrepreneur.co.uk for detailed information.

ENDS

Media enquiries:
Louise Third
Integra Communications
0115 906 1377 / 07773 288342

QED Consulting:
Amanda Edwards
01302 767884

Notes to editors: