Pictured: (l-r) Simon Jenner, head of incubation at BSPA,
with John Davidson, business relations manager, Chiltern
Railways
Members of Birmingham Science Park Aston's (BSPA) entrepreneurs
for the future (e4f) technology incubator programme have received a
boost through the scheme's latest sponsor, Chiltern Railways.
Chiltern Railways - which operates new 90-minute services
between Birmingham and London - has provided 100 standard-class
tickets from Birmingham Moor Street to London's Marylebone station
as part of its 12-month sponsorship deal, helping to ease the
pressure on start-up companies' budgets.
Launched in November 2009, the e4f incubator is open to
technology start-up businesses and provides free funding support,
expert mentoring, office space and access to a state-of-the-art
technology, including super-fast broadband for up to six months. To
date, the e4f programme has seen 35 per cent of start-up businesses
go on to become revenue generating companies in their own right
after their 'graduation' from the incubator.
Dr David Hardman, chief executive officer, Birmingham Science
Park Aston, said: "As with many sectors, the majority of senior
figures and key decision makers in the technology sector are based
in London, and it is vital that fledgling businesses get themselves
in front of these industry leaders in person.
"Many of these companies are just starting out and are generally
operating either on a shoestring budget or in some cases, are
funding expenses out of their own pockets. The availability of
these tickets will certainly go some way towards easing budgetary
pressures on the e4f companies, allowing them to focus on their
continued development."
The return tickets are valid for off-peak services operating on
the recently upgraded Chiltern Mainline route, which opened at the
start of September and has reduced travel time between the cities
from almost two hours, to just 90 minutes.
John Davidson, business relationship manager at Chiltern
Railways said: "I am extremely pleased to be associated with the
e4f programme at Birmingham Science Park Aston. We know that our
business customers appreciate our speed and our productive working
environment so I am very sure that our tickets will go some way in
helping these entrepreneurs to go on and create a successful and
profitable business."