Enterprise support

Be The Boss

“Be the Boss” is our award winning programme of enterprise support designed to help you develop the skills you need to confidently set up and run your own business.

Through a combination of action planning, one-to-one support provided by experienced business advisers, a series of workshops and other activities, you’ll be able to develop the skills you need to confidently set up and run your own new business. 

The "Be the Boss" programme is aimed at:

• Graduates - with features designed with the graduates in mind, Be the Boss is the perfect solution for those looking to start-up after graduation alongside other commitments
• Students - use Be the Boss alongside your studies and stay on top of your assignments like never before. There is no time constraint whether you need to get your idea going within months or if its a slow burner for when you graduate Be the Boss will guide you all the way 
• Year Placements - why not take some quality time to build your idea into a reality whilst at University. Take the place year in enterprise which incorporates Be the Boss, Pitch Perfect and Enactus to deliver all the skills you need to become a successful entrepreneur upon completion

Be the Boss is the culmination of the past 8 years of funded start-up support research and and development, merging the Design Thinking theory with the latest enterprise education in the industry. 

Click on the video below to hear from some of our previous participants as they share their journey from business idea to start-up. 

Key features of the "Be the Boss" programme are:

• Mobile friendly - continue your journey through Be the Boss whilst on the move where ever you are with the new mobile enhanced update 
• Digital workshops  Be the Boss understands that you have a busy life and 9-5 timings might not suit you therefore our workshops are pre-recorded as well as live
• In person or online - access your support in person and enhance your experience with 121's in person or online
• Data drive confidence - Be the Boss is an all-in-one solution, helping you to build your confidence in your idea by becoming data driven allowing you to target more effectively and ultimately have the confidence to start trading 

By participating in the “Be The Boss” programme you’ll benefit from:

• Innovation - experience the design thinking model first hand by researching, trailing, testing, tweaking and launching your idea whilst being connected to the Be the Boss community
• Ease of use - say goodbye to complicated paperwork and calendar clashes with your lectures. Be the Boss is intuitive and simple for anyone to use. More than that it writes your business plan with you!
• Efficiency - get more done in less time with Be the Boss, the ultimate start-up tool for building your idea into a reality
• Flexibility - take Be the Boss with you wherever you go, and don't waste your time watching poor advice from untrusted sources. Whether your ambition is a side hustle, freelance, or Unicorn company, Be the Boss is here for you
• Investment  - Be the Boss is not just an educational programme it's an investment in your future, the key to unlocking your potential and driving innovation in our institution, region and nation
• Community - get involved in our growing community of entrepreneurs, pioneers and be a part of something truly revolutionary

In order to apply for the “Be The Boss” programme you must be a student or recent graduate i.e. have graduated within the last 3 years and have never registered a business/social enterprise.

You must also be able to participate and complete each of the planned activities and the necessary paperwork.

Find out more about the successes of our graduates in setting up their own businesses via Be The Boss (pdf. 13MB)

Apply now, or to find out more about the programme please call us on 01332 592680 or email betheboss@derby.ac.uk.