Small Business Speed Launch 2025

Building on the success of last year’s inaugural event, the Student Enterprise Team hosted an action-packed Small Business Speed Launch weekend from March 21-23 at the Student Enterprise Junction in the new City Centre campus. With continued support from the Women in Business society, over 50 students participated in this comprehensive entrepreneurial boot camp. 

From Dreaming to Building: Turning Ideas into Reality 

The Small Business Speed Launch equips students with essential knowledge to transform business dreams into reality through expert sessions covering: 

• Idea and customer validation 

• Brand building strategies 

• Sales and marketing techniques 

• Accounting fundamentals 

• Business administration essentials 

Day 1: Inspiration and Networking 

Friday evening kicked off with a networking reception followed by an insightful panel discussion featuring Women in Business committee members Akshita Gupta and Anvi Jain interviewing current student founders Emma Boxley and Cherish Boxall. Attendees gained valuable insights into entrepreneurial challenges and advice for aspiring business owners. The Student Enterprise Team then delivered a session on customer validation, emphasizing the importance of market research. 

“What really stood out to me during the event was the energy in the room. The way students interacted with one another and deeply engaged in activities reminded me why societies like Women in Business and events like these are so important.” – Anvi Jain, Vice-President of Women in Business 

Day 2: Brand Building and Marketing Mastery 

Saturday morning began with breakfast followed by expert sessions on brand building and marketing. Branding consultancy Cavendish delivered key insights with Creative Director Charli Edwards and Emma Birch sharing their experience working on significant rebranding projects for companies like Southern Water. 

The afternoon featured Managing Director of Mitchell and Stones, Josh Mitchell, who delivered an inspiring talk on sales and marketing. As a former student entrepreneur himself, Josh has been a valued speaker at multiple Speed Launch events, providing practical guidance for business success. 

Day 3: Business Essentials and Recognition 

Sunday focused on practical business foundations with the Student Enterprise Team delivering sessions on productivity, wellbeing, accounting, and finance. The weekend concluded with an awards ceremony recognizing students who demonstrated outstanding communication and dedication throughout the event. 

“The Small Business Speed Launch is an invaluable opportunity for students who have passions, physical product ideas, hobbies or handcraft skills and want to turn them into a profitable side hustle. This could be anything from selling on Etsy or Amazon to launching a physical store. We want to teach students everything they will need to know to get started – and they don’t have to be the next tech startup founder or wanting to raise investment, just a willingness to turn their dreams into something tangible” – Tiffany Withers, Student Enterprise Coordinator 

Get Involved 

Interested in learning more about Student Enterprise events or exploring collaborative opportunities? Contact the team at [email protected].