Flash Fund
Take the first steps on your enterprise journey with the Flash Fund. Receive up to £250 to try out new or existing ideas.
About the flash fund
Do you have a great idea, and need some funding to get started? Have you started a side hustle, but need cash to take it to the next level? Thought about freelancing, but a financial hurdle is in your way? Tell us about it.
We want to give you up to £250 to support you in exploring and testing your idea, product or service.
The Flash Fund is here to empower you to go and do what you love. You may choose to use the fund for:
- prototyping
- material costs
- market research
- equipment (restrictions apply, see below)
- travel costs
- test trading costs
- training
Applications are open from Monday 30 September 2024 and will close on Sunday 14 October 2024 at 11:59pm.
Application criteria
- The fund is to be used to develop or progress an idea be that a side hustle, start-up, social enterprise or freelancing.
- Open to all current students and 2024 graduates.
- Applications can be made for funds between £10 to £250.
- The maximum award is given per idea or enterprise. If you are collaborating with others, only one application is permitted per group.
- Funds must be used to address a specific hurdle in progressing your idea or enterprise.
- If you have previously applied and not received funding, you are welcome to apply again.
- Successful applicants are required to submit a case study within three months of receiving funds and meet with the Student and Graduate Enterprise team.
- All funding will be allocated at the absolute discretion of the University and will be reviewed in accordance with the current and future policies of the University. Applications should be made for projects that are considered most consistent with the University’s mission, vision and values.
Restrictions on applications
- Funds must not be used to support specific curriculum-based course activity.
- Funding cannot be used for the purchase of laptops, iPads and general IT equipment.
If you require use of a laptop or other IT equipment, please visit the resource centres located around campus. There is a wide range of equipment available to rent. Visit Brooks, All Saints, the Library, or the Lowry building for a laptop loan.
Our Flash Fund winners
Our prize winners
A lot of the time, lack of funding is what stops people from going into business. This fund gives an incentive for people to actually go ahead and put out into the world the millions of ideas we think of.
I applied for the flash fund because, as a student, I am always budgeting and trying to make ends meet on any purchases I make. The money that I received enabled me to begin my freelancing business into the world of design.
I would 100% recommend others to apply for the Flash Fund, it was a very easy process and has awarded us the ability to push our business forward in unforeseen times.
I have used the flash fund to purchase interesting and unique trims and decorative elements for my designs which I otherwise wouldn't have had access to.
It is a great start up help to encourage students and final years like myself who are a single parent to be able to have motivation to start their business as this is my end goal when leaving university to create a makeup brand.