Pictured above: (l-r) OOP! team Chris Chadwick, James Wood, Joe Richardson, Charlie Horn and Simon Jenner (e4F)

Entrepreneurs for the future (e4f), the dedicated programme that supports the next generation of tech entrepreneurs, is celebrating the arrival of its 25th start-up business at Birmingham Science Park Aston (BSPA). This coincided with the news that the e4f Centre has secured funding for the scheme for a further three years.

Run by BSPA since its inception in November 2009, the latest company to join the incubation centre this month is gaming software company OOP!. The e4f centre, led by serial entrepreneur and BSPA's head of incubation Simon Jenner, has helped an impressive 56 per cent of the businesses that it has incubated to generate income, 14 per cent of which have already moved into rented business space at BSPA.

Having now secured further funding from the European Regional Development Fund, e4f will continue to offer support to start-ups until 2013. This backing will also allow the team to fulfil its aspiration to grow the facility into a third incubation suite within the Faraday Wharf building at the Park over the coming year.

Simon Jenner commented: "Entrepreneurs for the Future was set up by BSPA last November to support regional start-ups and promote the digital skills agenda by providing the tools, space and expert advice needed to help these new businesses achieve commercial success in the long-term. A year on we are delighted to have been awarded the funding to continue providing support to start-ups within the region and to continue building the valuable links with investors, funders and other key businesses within the innovation and tech industry. 

"It is very encouraging to see such a high percentage of the start-up companies that have come to us in the last year grow into revenue generating businesses and extremely rewarding to know that e4f and BSPA played a part in that growth and success and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future."

The unique e4f initiative supports start-up companies to achieve growth and commercial success through its incubation programme, which includes providing office or desk space for up to six months, access to phone and the internet, access to finance and funding, as well as expert advice and mentoring. 

To be eligible to apply for a place within the incubator, start-ups must be less than a year old, must be, or be capable of becoming a Ltd company, the business idea must be innovative and the founder must be willing to relocate or establish the business to the e4f Centre at BSPA.