Trafford Business Connect

14
TRAFFORD BUSINESS connect March/April 2014
news
UMIP becomes key partner of
non-profit global mentorship network
The world’s largest not-for-profit
global mentorship and education
network The Indus Entrepreneurs
(TiE) has joined forces with UMIP,
the University of Manchester’s
agent for intellectual property
commercialisation.
The pairing will see up to 35 student,
spin-out or social enterprises from
the University given the opportunity
to access the TiE mentorship
programme in both local sessions
and by remotely connecting to TiE’s
global network of business experts.
Regional sessions will be held at
Founders Dock hub or in Quay
House, Spinningfields - a new
incubator that offers start-ups a
range of support, including office
space, technology and coaching
from industry experts.
Organisations from UMIP will be
invited to attend an on-going
calendar of TiE events, seminars
and workshops and will enjoy
connections with the entire
network, offering the opportunity
for collaborations, the validation of
business models and funding links.
Participating enterprises will also
gain access to Founders Dock and
will be able to utilise hot-desking,
state-of-the-art technology and
amenities like printers and
web conferencing.
The collaboration will also entail:
• TiE mentors and speakers
attending and presenting at
UMIP events.
• Related workshops at UMI3
(the University of Manchester
Innovation Company).
• Student groups working
alongside TiE mentors.
• Collaborations of press,
communications and media
from the two organisations.
The relationship between the
two organisations was driven by
University of Manchester alumnus
Vikas Shah, managing director
of the Swiscot Group and Vice-
President and Board Member for
TiE’s branch in the north of the
UK. He said: “Being a University
of Manchester alumnus I was
keen to develop links between
the University and TiE. We are in
an innovation economy, where
the future global business success
stories will be those driven by
technology, intellectual property and
science. UMIP and The University of
Manchester are globally respected in
this regard, and we are proud to be
partnered with them.”
Tony Walker, Director of Enterprise
and Business Development at UMIP,
also welcomed the partnership,
stating: “This partnership enables
us to provide both our student and
academic entrepreneurs with access
to successful business mentors
on a global scale. Access to such
a successful TiE resource will be
invaluable in helping them gain
a greater understanding of their
particular market characteristics
and developing additional
resource capability.“
TiE
The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE)
is the world’s largest not-forprofit
organisation dedicated
to supporting and fostering
entrepreneurship. The organisation
has members in 60 chapters, across
17 countries. The North West
chapter of TiE is one of the world’s
most active; headquartered at
Spinningfields (Manchester) and
covering the whole of the north
of England. For more information,
visit: www.tieuknorth.org
UMIP
The University of Manchester
Intellectual Property is The
University of Manchester’s
agent for intellectual property
commercialisation and is a division
of The University of Manchester
I 3 Ltd (www.umi3.com) - the
University’s Innovation Company.
UMIP is wholly owned by The
University of Manchester which
has over a 20 year history of IP
commercialisation.
UMIP’s role is to bring as much of
the University’s ground-breaking
inventions and software, as is
relevant, into the commercial
world. This is done principally by
attracting entrepreneurs, investors
and corporate venture partners
to their campus and Innovation
Centre (www.umic.co.uk) and then,
through engagement with their
academic colleagues, licensing or
spinning out companies.
Go for Growth networking in Manchester
Shipley and TiE UK North.
British Asian Trust, and spoke about Ashok Kallumpram, a member of
A member of The British Asian
his rise in the world of retail and his The British Asian Trust’s Regional
Trust UK Advisory Council and
pride at being a second generation Chapter North was also on hand
Indian. Simon spoke at length to talk about the work of the Trust
retail entrepreneur, Simon was
about how the business’ remarkable that was established by HRH The
the key speaker at the special
growth story has its origins in South Prince of Wales in 2007, and has
networking event held at the Private
Asia and a future in Europe. He also helped to transform the lives of over
Bank, Brown Shipley Offices in
spoke about his support for The 1 million people living in South Asia.
Manchester, in collaboration with
British Asian Trust and why he feels The charity acts as a ‘social fund’ to
TiE UK North.
it is so important to give back to his support high impact charities within
Simon Arora is CEO of B&M Retail, country of origin through the Trust. the areas of education, livelihoods
now one of the country’s largest
He commented: “It was a pleasure
and health.
retailers. Simon and his brother
to speak about my journey as an Tariq Marfani, from TiE UK North
Bobby acquired B&M in 2004, when
entrepreneur. But my one take away also spoke about the importance
the chain had just 21 stores and was
for all guests was the message that of mentorship and developing the
a loss-making business. Since then,
Simon Arora,
you should never forget where you potential of the new generation of
the brothers’ commercial acumen
CEO of B&M Retail
come from. I am proud of being entrepreneurs. Kevin Doran, Chief
has helped the chain grow to
Indian and The British Asian Trust Investment Officer at Brown Shipley,
On Thursday 6 March, Simon Arora over 370 stores and £1 billion+
has allowed me to give back to my spoke about the state of savings and
gave a keynote speech at ‘Go annual revenues.
country of origin, channelling investments in light of the recession
for Growth’, a special networking
evening in collaboration with Brown
Given his strong Indian identity,
Simon is actively involved with The
my success as a retailer back
into South Asia.”
and the impact this has had on
savers in the UK.