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.”