Watford Springboard Programme (United Kingdom)

This programme can accelerate your business venture by providing access to a range of targeted business support, including 1-2-1 mentoring and training.

The University of Hertfordshire has designed a programme, funded by Watford Borough Council, to provide businesses in Watford with the knowledge, skills, and tools to grow and scale-up their businesses. Through this partnership with the University of Hertfordshire, Watford Borough Council is committed to helping Watford businesses access expert business support to grow and scale. This programme follows the successful delivery of previous startup support programmes including Watford Young Entrepreneurs.

Aims 

• Through the Watford Springboard Programme, we want to ensure businesses have the best possible chance of succeeding. Key aims of the programme include:
  • Supporting businesses to develop new skills through the introduction of new tools and approaches including design thinking.
  • Introducing businesses to the process of launching new products or services, including evaluating the product/service idea, considering target customers and markets, understanding product development costs, including marketing and promotion.
  • Through a combination of one-to-one mentoring and group sessions, providing businesses with the knowledge they require to manage their operations, from HR to financial record keeping, creating goals and setting KPIs, to developing growth plans.
  • Supporting businesses to develop the confidence and knowledge they require to enter new markets, by introducing tools and guidance to carry out market research and put in place appropriate business plans.

Benefits

• The programme includes a combination of:
  • Group workshops and training, including masterclasses from academic and industry experts;
  • One-to-one mentoring, advice and guidance;
  • Guided peer-to-peer support sessions;
  • The opportunity to apply for up to £1,000 in grant funding.
• Participants should attend at least 60% of the workshop to be eligible for the £1000 grant funding

Programme Content

• Masterclasses: Hear from academics, successful entrepreneurs, and industry experts and access a dynamic programme of workshops and sessions on topics including:
  • The entrepreneurial mindset
  • Design thinking tools to develop new products and services
  • Pricing strategies
  • Financial regulation and bookkeeping 101
  • Digital marketing strategies
  • Internationalisation and grant funding
  • Pitching
  • Market research and Research & Development (R&D)
• Peer-to-peer networking: Participants in the programme will join a cohort of likeminded businesses and partake in facilitated monthly check-in meetings, led by an expert entrepreneurship adviser, to encourage action and accountability.
• 1-2-1 business mentoring: Participants will also benefit from access to an expert business mentor, with whom they’ll work to develop a pitch-deck.

Eligibility Criteria

• Up to two entrepreneurs per business will be eligible to be part of the programme, and at least one of them will need to fulfil the following criteria:
  • Must have registered or be running a registered small business at the time of submitting an application; sole traders are also encouraged to apply
  • The business must have been trading for under three years
  • Business premises or registered addresses must be in Watford Borough (not just a WD postcode, must be covered by Watford Borough Council)
  • The business did not take part in the Watford Springboard Programme pilot (2023-24)

For more information, visit University of Hertfordshire.