Entrepreneurs in MK hub generate more than £3 million

    Entrepreneurial Spark has revealed that entrepreneurs in the Milton Keynes hub generated more than £3 million of turnover in 2016.

    Since the hub, based at Silbury Boulevard, opened in 2016, it has supported 72 local businesses, attracted almost £800,000 of investment and created 55 new jobs. The turnover of businesses in the Milton Keynes hub was in excess of £3.2million. Working shoulder to shoulder in the hub are the Entrepreneurial Spark Enablers Jodie Hughes and Mike Sweet and NatWest Entrepreneur Development Manager Steve Chown.

    The impressive figures are reflected across all four nations of the UK and across all sectors with 3,152 jobs created by the supported businesses.

    A people-centric and action-orientated approach means businesses that have been through the Entrepreneurial Spark programme have focussed and resilient leaders, and a fantastic chance of growing as a business. 85% of the businesses accelerated are still trading which is more than double the national average. A focus on creating growth mindsets and hands-on enablement by Entrepreneurial Spark with the key support of all its partners in NatWest, KPMG Enterprise, Dell Technologies and Pinsent Masons means that over 1,700 businesses have been helped to grow across the UK.

    Entrepreneurial Spark recently created a new suite of programmes which will build even more people who build even better businesses. This evolved model will provide specialised, bespoke enablement for entrepreneurs on all stages of their journey.

    NatWest Entrepreneur Development Manager Steve Chown said: “The figures for our Milton Keynes hub show just how much of an impact Entrepreneurial Spark is having in the South East. We are very proud of all of our entrepreneurs and their commitment to the programme which is enabling them to create jobs, secure investment and support their local economies.”

    Since joining Entrepreneurial Spark, Adrian Knight, managing director of Knight Franchises, based in Milton Keynes, has developed as an entrepreneur. He said: “I've changed quite a lot. One of the big things has been learning to become a leader. The moment that first employee started, I realise my role had changed and I had to lead other people.

    “I'm also more focussed than I used to be, as there's so much to do and my time has become precious. I've been learning to not waste any time and make every minute count.”

    Lucy-Rose Walker, Entrepreneurial Spark CEO, said: “Our vision is to create positive social change by giving people the chance to grow and create jobs, and value in the economy. It’s really gratifying to see that those entrepreneurs have now created 3,152 jobs across the UK, all of them creating social change by contributing to their communities and local economies.

    “Our partnership with NatWest is such a powerful one and enables us to give hands-on practical help to start-ups of every kind, from that first spark of an idea, right up to bigger businesses needing to scale and grow. We also love working with KPMG, Dell Technologies and Pinsent Masons because as the experts in what they do they offer so much to our entrepreneurs.”

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