The Cube: Useful resources, training and e-learning for budding entrepreneurs

We've compiled a list of resources to help you on your entrepreneurial journey

 

We've compiled a list of resources to help you take the first steps towards building your venture with confidence. The resources listed are from trusted sources we know and recommend.

We can provide you with research for your industry sector. We can send you a PDF with comprehensive information on business sectors and business opportunities. Find everything from what qualifications and skills you would need to relevant legislation and key market trends, please email thecube@plymouth.ac.uk for your quick and easy research document.

Develop your skills with LinkedIn Learning

LinkedIn Learning is a leading online learning platform that helps anyone learn business, software, technology, and creative skills to achieve personal and professional goals. The LinkedIn Learning video library features engaging, top-quality courses taught by recognised industry experts.
LinkedIn Learning is available to all ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ staff and students, please see our dedicated LinkedIn Learning pages for more information.
Group working on ideas around a table
The Cube has online resources to support the development of your business idea, business, self-employment, freelancing or just increase your entrepreneurial skills and knowledge. Enterprise modules are available via the Digital Learning Environment (DLE) at . Select the Student Self Enrolment button to register.
The course content covers:
  • understanding your customer
  • elevator pitch
  • idea generation
  • business sanity check
  • business plan.
For each topic there are a short video presentations, YouTube links, PDF information sheets, templates and tools.
A great resource for you to use in your own time to explore key areas of business to grow your skills and knowledge.

Information resources

  • Self-Employment: A series of 'bite-sized' videos on self-employment are available on the .
  • Setting up your company: talks you through the different options for setting yourself up as a sole trader or limited company, and what you need to know.
  • National Insurance and Tax: is available on Gov.uk's website to work out how much money you need to set aside for National Insurance /Tax.
  • Launch and Grow your Business: run a series of workshop packages on everything you need to know to help you start, launch and grow your business.
  • Articles: is an invaluable resource for up to date articles on entrepreneurship hot topics and news. It also contains 62 detailed guides on how to start a business in popular industries.
  • from Looka has detailed information on what you need to do to start your business.

Business Model Canvas and Business plan templates

Marketing and branding

  • A guide to how small business marketing can be made easy for new company owners: .
  • The provides insights on important aspects of choosing marketing software and streamlines the overall process.

Business networking

The Cube has lots of advice on how to network, here are a few ways of networking.

Legal and accountancy

  • Company information: incorporates and dissolves limited companies, registers the information companies are legally required to supply, and makes that information available to the public.
  • Accountancy: Getting an accountant to help with the accounting, tax and finance issues should be able to save a start-up business more time and money than the cost of the accountancy fees.
  • This useful is a great place to start for making decisions on data protection within your business data protection guides.

Intellectual property (IP)

  • IP and Research: IP and Research help can be found at .
  • Guide to IP: The offers a guide and e-learning tool on intellectual property and how to create a viable business opportunity from your idea.
  • IP Rights: website is an accredited e-learning tool to help students and lecturers understand intellectual property rights.
  • Trademarks / Patents: Read through the .
  • The ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Intellectual Property Policy: This Policy sets out the University’s position regarding the ownership of intellectual property (IP) developed by staff, students and certain others, together with the procedures in place for commercialisation of University owned IP. It covers all University related activities, including research and innovation and student education.

Social enterprise

  • Gov.uk has a guide on .
  • Training in social enterprise: is a worldwide network for social entrepreneurs providing training, services and news.
  • Support for social enterprise: is a charity that supports social entrepreneurs on their journey.
  • is a hub and support system for social purpose businesses in the city of Plymouth.
  • Social Enterprise Mark CIC has created a video .

Becoming a freelancer/contractor during or after university

  • How to become a contractor: is an IT contractor community with advice and information about starting out as a contractor.
  • Opportunities: for other opportunities to develop your employability and explore careers and placements with established companies, visit the ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Careers Service.
  • What employment rights are freelancers not entitled to? Here is a from Dolan Accountancy – Award Winning experts.
  • Self-employed ready reckoner to budget for your Self Assessment tax bill for the year. Enter your estimated weekly or monthly profit to get an idea of how much Income Tax, Class 2 and Class 4 National Insurance you’ll pay: .

Exploring entrepreneurship

  • The steps to starting a business using easy .
  • TED Talks: If you're still searching for a business idea, try these TED talks included in the playlist

Small Business Toolkit

To support these exciting ventures, and those other new and small businesses who have ambitions to grow, Devon & Plymouth Chamber have created this digital Small Business Toolkit brochure comprising a whole range of advice and guidance.

Digital Business Academy

The provide free online courses that help you to build skills to start, grow or join a digital business.

Pensions for Self-Employed

. This guide provides supportive information on the benefits of having a pension if you’re self-employed and further guidance.

Enactus at the ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ & Global

What is Enactus?
We are a global community of students, creating real businesses and social enterprises to tackle the world’s biggest issues. Enactus allows students to gain real-life experience of using the skills of entrepreneurship and innovation by creating projects that tackle the sustainability development goals. Our main aim is to make a difference, by turning opportunity into action and focusing on the concerns that currently need addressing.
Enactus Plymouth has both local and international projects. An example of one of our international projects is PurEgypt which is currently producing a bio-sand water filter that utilizes sand to filter the once contaminated water, with the aim of reducing Egypt’s reliance on plastic water bottles.
We develop social enterprise projects in small teams, with the help of a widespread network of academics, Enactus alumni and business advisors. We work closely with some of the world’s biggest companies, and our members are up to 50x more likely to be hired by our partners as graduates than the average student. We regularly meet business professionals who provide us with advice and attend networking events, both locally in Plymouth and national events.
Alongside this, we compete as a Plymouth team against other university teams from across the country at annual regional and national competitions, displaying our projects and showcasing the impact we have made over the last year. There is the opportunity to be part of the presentation team, which is another way Enactus can improve members presentation skills, levels of confidence, and networking skills.
We welcome everyone to come along to help us make a difference. For more information join our or contact us via email: enactusplymouth@gmail.com.
 

Key links

The Cube : inspiring student and graduate entrepreneurs

The Cube isn’t just about running a business at university, It’s a collection of activities and support that offer you the chance to challenge yourself by learning new skills, both personally and professionally
Group working on ideas around a table
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