Exeter’s Business Boom

A recent report by the BBC has found that Exeter is one of the top 10 places in England for the amount of businesses with large potential.

Nearly 1,000 companies out of 7,345 in Exeter have high growth potential, the BBC Local Growth Research by Experian shows.

Exeter University’s Business Innovation Centre is a base for 55 firms in the city and is the culmination of £10 million pounds of funding. 

The Innovation Centre’s website lays out what they offer to local, start up businesses:
• Flexibility and choice
• A superb location
• An outstanding environment
• A wealth of facilities and services
• Access to leading-edge knowledge and expertise

One of the most helpful assets of the centre is the advice and help of their mentors.

One firm at the Centre is Crowd Cube which was launched in February 2011 and has raised more than £2.5 million for start-up firms. Its six employees host a virtual ‘Dragon’s Den’ type arena for investment pitches in the aim to close the funding gap for new businesses. It has approximately 12000 members and funded 14 pitches, including some from University students themselves.

To have such great resources on our doorstep is a fantastic privilege and should act a huge source of encouragement for any budding entrepreneurs amongst our readers.