The Innovative Entrepreneurs Programme empowers early-stage businesses to grow and thrive through personalised 1:1 coaching, educational workshops, and collaborative peer group sessions. It provides entrepreneurs with the tools to refine their ideas, connect with a supportive ecosystem, and strategise pathways to secure funding.

Purpose of support

Helen Hill, Co-Owner of Be the Future Immersed, a climate education business, joined the programme to gain clearer direction for her entrepreneurial journey after a significant pivot and to explore how innovation could be seamlessly integrated into an emerging business, setting it up for long-term success.

Challenges Faced?

Helen brought an abundance of big ideas and innovative thinking but initially struggled to see how these could translate into a successful business model. Traditional approaches to business planning and strategy had left her feeling uninspired and hesitant to invest time in this critical aspect of her venture. The challenge, therefore, was to find an approach to business planning that aligned with her creative mindset and visual strengths. She also needed guidance in navigating the funding landscape and identifying the best approach.

Engagement Process

Whilst Helen has had coaching previously, those programmes were aimed at established small businesses. The Innovative Entrepreneurs Programme works with very early-stage entrepreneurs therefore taking into account the founder's needs more acutely. Not only are the practicalities of strategic business development considered but personal aspects such as confidence building and learning methodologies for success are woven into the coaching. Helen's creative mindset suited the use of the online whiteboard tool Miro for all her strategic and planning activity.

What’s Next?

Helen has won Creative Catalyst Innovate UK funding of £50k to develop her innovation towards a pilot launch and onto commercial reality in 2025.  The business is going from strength to strength and through Helen's newfound confidence to network within the sector, a number of key partnerships have been established to help her develop the hardware and software aspects of the innovation. The key to success will lie in harnessing her leadership skills to bring together all aspects of the innovation project and successfully launch the immersive experience. Support from Innovate UK Business Growth will help her to realise her vision and take it to market.

Support Outcomes and Benefits

With tailored support from RTC North, Helen has developed an inspired and motivating way of working. She has crafted a highly visual planning and business development process that allows her to respond with agility to rapid changes within the business. Initially, she didn’t see herself as an entrepreneur, but she now possesses the confidence to pursue any goal she sets. Her newfound skills extend to managing a growing team, pitching effectively to sponsors and collaborators, and she has even earned the title of Entrepreneur of the Year from the Digital Women network, a national community of female digital innovators.

Quote from Advisor

“Helen has made excellent progress from a position where she struggled with the concepts required to better understand her idea and define her strategy, to a place of confident capability of how to quickly take things forwards. We have also secured further coaching support for her through the Innovate UK Business Growth team which will help her to realise the ambitions of the grant funded project.”

Quote from Client

“It has been very valuable to have someone who specifically understands this scale of project and the challenges of being an entrepreneur. My needs have varied hugely each session, from business development guidance and practical tasks, to helping me pick myself up when having a huge crisis of confidence and ready to quit, to now having to work at a very swift pace and manage a team. Andy has responded well to whatever has been unexpectedly thrown at him! His connections have also proved valuable, especially in relation to guidance that ultimately helped me to secure Innovate UK funding, which I don't think I would have won without that.”

To learn more about the programme, visit: https://www.wybusiness-skills.com/innovative-entrepreneurs/