Startup and enterprise support

You can apply for Bath Sparks funding if you have an enterprise idea you want to get off the ground and need some funding to make it work. Enterprise ideas include:

• A startup or enterprise idea – this could include creating and selling products, developing new technology and/or delivering a service.
• A freelance / sole trader venture – this could include delivering a service and/or promoting yourself for freelance opportunities such as commissions or freelance work opportunities.
• A creative project – that has commercial intent as one of the drivers. This could sit alongside a social or educational aim. You need to provide evidence that there is potential for growth of the activity beyond the life of the project.
• A social enterprise – a business with a social or environmental mission where profits are invested back into the business or into the local community (for further information see Social Enterprise. To search examples of social enterprises, see SEUK Members. 

We really want you to feel that there are no limits to where your idea may sit. Makers, scientists, designers, artists, tech specialists, product developers or educators - social enterprises to high growth startup

For information about the types of enterprise ideas, previously been funded via Bath Sparks, please see the FAQ section for each competition.

Bath Sparks funding cannot be used to fund your degree show. However, you may wish to use the university’s crowdfunding platform Launchpad.

For further information, visit our Alumni crowdfunding page, or email external@bathspa.ac.uk

We run four main Bath Sparks awards a year, some with more than one opportunity to apply:

• Explore It!
• Launch It!
• Grow It!

Awards are open to current students (except International Tier 4 Students – see below) as well as alumni who have graduated within the previous 2 years.

Unfortunately, Tier 4 International Students are unable to apply for Bath Sparks funding as this funding does not comply with Tier 4 visa conditions.

The Tier 4 visa does not permit students to be self-employed or engaging in business activity. Should you wish to speak to someone about your Tier 4 visa, please contact the International Advice Team at internationaladvice@bathspa.ac.uk.

Yes, as long as you meet the rest of the application criteria and have graduated within the past two years then you are able to apply for some of the Bath Sparks awards funding (2021/2022). Please note: Bath Sparks funding eligibility is reviewed on an annual basis.

The following awards are open to applications from recent graduates:

• Launch It! (final-year students and graduates)
• Grow It! (exclusively for graduates and available throughout the year)

Email careers@bathspa.ac.uk for more information on how to apply.

Yes, you can apply for more than one Bath Sparks competition if you wish to, but you must meet the eligibility criteria for each competition you wish to enter – see FAQ section for each competition.

Yes, you can apply for Bath Sparks funding if you applied in a previous academic year, regardless of whether or not you were previously successful in your funding application.

If you have been successful in accessing Bath Sparks funding in a previous academic year, it would be expected that any future application(s) for funding must either progress your idea further or be an application based on a new idea.

Yes. If your creative project, business or freelance idea is one you have been developing as part of your course, you can still apply for Bath Sparks funding provided you meet the eligibility criteria for the award you wish to enter and have the intention to explore/progress your idea after you graduate as a commercial venture.

Bath Sparks funding exists for current students and recent graduates who want to develop their enterprise ideas, regardless of whether they are connected to their degree subject or not. 

We want our Bath Sparks awards to enable your curiosity to realise your entrepreneurial potential.

You can apply as an individual or as part of a group for all Bath Sparks funding Awards (Explore It!’, ‘Launch It!’, ‘Grow It!’, ‘Tech It!.’).

If applying as part of a group you need to identify one person to submit the application and be the point of contact with Bath Sparks. Any funding awarded to groups will be paid to the named individual contact for that group.

If you are part of a group and developing your idea with others who are not Bath Spa University students, you can still apply for Bath Sparks funding as a current student. However, you cannot apply for Bath Sparks funding is you are buying into a business already owned by a non-Bath Spa University student

Please see our competition Terms and Conditions or, if in doubt, contact careers@bathspa.ac.uk before you apply to check your eligibility.

Yes – both you and the business need to be based in the UK. If in doubt, contact careers@bathspa.ac.uk.

All enterprise activities through the Employability Team comes under the overarching brand, Bath Sparks. This includes everything from 1-2-1 mentoring, workshops, events and funding awards. 

You can book in for a 1-2-1 insight appointment to get you started and to help with initial signposting of your business idea. Email: careers@bathspa.ac.uk

You might also wish to review our top tips for applications (PDF).

For 2021/22, our funding is generously provided by Santander Universities. Bath Spa University is proud to partner with Santander University Enterprise Awards to help you access the best enterprise support opportunities, funding and networks to help make your idea a reality.

That’s ok – don’t worry! Please contact Bath Sparks as soon as possible at careers@bathspa.ac.uk.

Bath Sparks exists as a learning experience to test your enterprise ideas. We expect all recipients of funding to be motivated to make their idea a success and to carry out the activity or attempt to carry out the activity as per the awarded application

However, if your venture isn’t a success at this time, you are not required to repay the funding. We ask that even if your idea doesn’t work that you complete the feedback on you activity. This helps us show how our funding has been used to help our students and graduates, ensuring we can continue to provide these opportunities for others in the future – there is always something to learn from both success and failure.

You must read through the Bath Sparks Funding Terms and Conditions. You will be required to confirm that you agree to these prior to receiving funding.

For all queries please email careers@bathspa.ac.uk.