As a School of Management student, I’ve always wanted to run my own business. Last year, thanks to the support offered by our university, I was able to make this ambition into a reality as I launched my own company selling second-hand Lego online!
As a School of Management student, I’ve always wanted to run my own business. Last year, thanks to the support offered by our university, I was able to make this ambition into a reality as I launched my own company selling second-hand Lego online! This January, I registered The Brick Lair LTD as an official company and have exciting plans for the year ahead.
In this article, I wanted to give some tips on how to start a business as a student, and the resources available on campus to help you get started.
1. Build around something you could talk about all day, you might have to!
If you’re looking to start your own business but aren’t sure where to start, try and think of something that you enjoy and know a lot about. I’ve been collecting Lego since I was a child, and I realised that identifying hundreds of pieces and figures and spending all day around them without getting burnt out was a huge asset that gave me an advantage over other sellers. On this note, despite popular belief, there is no need to come up with an idea that is new or revolutionary to be successful.
2. Start as a Student
While it can be difficult to balance coursework and extracurriculars with entering the business world, I would recommend starting to put a plan together while you are a student at Bath, so that you’re able to take full advantage of the range of support they have on offer.
3. Join Bath Enterprise
Enterprise Bath is a business hub based on campus that offers a range of support to students who want to start or grow their businesses. This support comes in multiple forms, including workshops, email support, special events, and mentoring.
4. Get a mentor
Finding a mentor is one of the most crucial parts of getting started in a new field. While it can be difficult to find one when you don’t know where to look, the amount of time you’ll save trying to navigate the space yourself is priceless. However, this is also something Enterprise can help you with. Every so often they offer a speed-dating mentor event where you can be matched up with a volunteer who will give you 5 contact hours to help you make your business plans a reality. This is how I found my mentor who has been a huge contributor to my professional and personal development. That being said, there are other ways to find a mentor. Reaching out on LinkedIn and asking for a 20-minute chat will almost always get you a positive response. I’m always available if you’d like to grab a coffee and chat!
5. Ask Around for Support
Another source of support is the School of Management. This is a building literally full of people whose professions are related to business. Chances are, if you have a question about your business, there will be someone in that building who can help. Linking to this, your student experience officer. Their job is to help you, if you have a question, they will find someone to help! I have personally done this with some accounting help and my experience officer helped straight away.
6. Use the University Innovation Centre
The University Innovation Centre is a university service that has partnered with Enterprise to help students with some of the bigger business questions. This could include legal, accounting, and strategy help. This service is most beneficial once your business is actively starting but it’s still a huge help for receiving guidance at any stage of the process.
If you’re still feeling stuck or have any specific questions, I’d be more than happy to help in any way I can! You can also use this link to reach out to me on social media or check out my store:
https://linktr.ee/thebricklair