Enterprise for students

You don’t need to have a business idea to get involved with enterprise at Liverpool. The Sir Peter Rigby Centre for Enterprise gives University of Liverpool students access to practical support, programmes, mentoring, events and opportunities to develop entrepreneurial skills. Whether you want to explore an idea, gain experience in a start-up environment or build the confidence to turn an idea into action, there are different ways to get started.

Develop your idea

Design Your Future is the University of Liverpool’s flagship enterprise programme, supporting students and graduates at different stages of their entrepreneurial journey. The 2026–27 programme includes Explore, for shaping and testing early ideas; Develop, for building a viable business model and plan; Fastrack, for more established founders needing flexible support; and Launch, where eligible participants can pitch their venture and compete for funding at the Launched in Liverpool event.

Get advice and mentoring

You can access practical support without joining a full programme. The Entrepreneurship and Start-Up Clinic gives you a place to discuss an idea, challenge or next step, while Entrepreneurs in Residence offer one-to-one insight from experienced entrepreneurs and business leaders on areas such as business planning, marketing, pitching, sustainability and growth. These services remain part of the University’s core enterprise offer for 2026–27.

Build skills and gain experience

Enterprise is not only about starting your own business. Opportunities such as the Liverpool Enterprise Experience Programme (LEEP) and ULMS Consultancy Clinic allow students to build commercial awareness, problem-solving skills and real-world experience by working with University start-ups and live business challenges. The Enterprise and Start-up Collection also brings together current enterprise events, freelance opportunities and start-up roles as they become available.

Take your next step

If you are ready to formalise a business, the Entrepreneurship and Start-Up team can provide one-to-one business registration support, helping you understand different structures, work through the registration process and plan for trading and growth. Eligible founders may also be able to access limited seed support towards early incorporation costs, subject to availability.