Swansea University now has a ‘business butler’ for new graduate start-up scheme

This bold initiative has been devised to encourage entrepreneurship among graduates while improving their chances of succeeding in business.

The scheme is a 12-month programme starting on 30 January 2023 and will support Swansea University Graduates in starting or expanding their own business, social enterprise or career as a freelancer. Early-stage entrepreneurs who have graduated during the past three years will qualify for the scheme, which will provide a package of business support worth up to £5,000 to help their start-up career.

Business Butler’s founder and CEO, Bhupinder Sidhu is delighted with the collaboration and said: “It is wonderful to partner with Swansea University, after all this is the city where Business Butler was founded. To be able to help the next generation of entrepreneurs at a critical stage of their development is rewarding.

“This is also an excellent opportunity for our experts to play a key role in mentoring graduates. The knowledge and guidance they provide will have a positive influence as they embark on their entrepreneurial journey.”

The importance of the partnership can’t be understated, as Kelly Jordan, Senior Enterprise Officer at Swansea University, explained: “One of Swansea University’s missions is to create entrepreneurial graduates, this programme has been designed to support our graduates to start businesses after their studies, with a package of masterclasses, funding, mentorship, networking and various other business support in partnership with Business Butler, this will support in venture creation, in which will have a direct positive impact on the economy and society.”

Along with business funding, the support package also includes all the tools necessary for success as a business owner and this is where Business Butler plays an integral role. Business Butler is an on-demand talent platform that boasts a panel of more than 80 fully- vetted business experts specialising in key areas including accounting, financial services, marketing, and coaching to name just a few, and in total cover 120 business services.

Graduates will receive training, mentoring and membership of the Business Butler platform, which includes networking, attending events and key business tools such as a Zoom business package. This package enables access to virtual meeting rooms, offers video and messaging options and provides members with their own business landline number with professional call handling features. Membership also allows graduates to access Business Butler’s extensive community of members.

The young entrepreneurs will also benefit from 12 masterclass sessions delivered by Business Butler experts on their respective specialised fields. The 1-2-1 mentoring is a crucial component of the support package because gaining access to an array of business knowledge from established professionals can prove invaluable for graduates and equip them with the confidence and skills necessary to succeed in the competitive world of business. Graduates will also gain exposure for their businesses through University channels including Alumni, Enterprise, Central Teams, Employability and Faculties.   

Business Butler say that you don’t have to be a graduate to be part of the Business Butler community because the Associate Membership tier is open to all and is free.