Entrepreneurial, enterprising, enriching
Entrepreneurial, enterprising, enriching

The Accelerator at London Metropolitan University

25 Apr 2019

London Metropolitan University has been a pioneer of entrepreneurship for over 15 years. Over this time it has helped thousands of small businesses and entrepreneurs through its programmes and facilities at Accelerator, the university’s business incubator in the heart of what is now Tech City. In 2003 LMU won a European grant to bring tech skills to Hackney and created Accelerator to prepare young people for the growing digital economy. The space has expanded its support over the years to include a wide range of training, mentorship, funding advice and affordable work space.

Accelerator is the longest running startup support centre in Tech City and an early model for the successful co-working incubators that are such a vital part of the economy today. It was also an early example of universities working beyond the walls of their campus and setting up spaces that act as a bridge between academia and business.

London Met’s Student Enterprise initiative runs entrepreneurship programmes from the Accelerator, in an environment benefiting from the support of successful company founders based in the building. This unique model, bringing startups and students together, and forming part of London Met’s work-related learning programme taken by all undergraduates at the university was recognised by the Small Business Charter in 2018. The Charter award included Exemplar status (one of only three in the country) in recognition of the way students from across the university are linked with businesses, and the support provided to SMEs and startups.

Accelerator is home to 30 early stage tech business and 12 graduate startups. Companies based there over the past three years raised £14m in investment and made £21m in revenue in 2017, while creating 170 new jobs.