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Prizes ‘Flood' In for Innovative BU Graduate

 

Bournemouth University graduate Simon Phelps is looking to turn his one-time student project into a long-term commercial success after winning two major prizes.

Not only has Simon been selected by the National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship (NCGE) and the US-based Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation to be part of its new Entrepreneurship Fellows Scheme, he has also secured a grant from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTi) to further develop and invest in his unique ‘Floodstop' modular flood barrier.

Simon Phelps Bournemouth University graduate Simon Phelps is looking to turn his one-time student project into a long-term commercial success after winning two major prizes.

Simon, who graduated from BU in 2004 with a BSc (Hons) in Computer Aided Design, is now pursuing a Postgraduate Certificate on Bournemouth 's unique programme in Business Formation. He will receive one of just 15 Kauffman Fellowships offered this year as part of a Scheme that sends the best of the UK 's future entrepreneurial talent to the United States for six months as part of a scholarship programme.

The DTi Smart award of £11,000 is part of a financial package which includes investment by Simon and BU Innovations Ltd, Bournemouth University 's technology transfer company. This will help Simon invest in the further development of the ‘Floodstop' barrier which he originally designed as a student after recognising that one in 10 houses in the UK are under threat of flooding – and that climate change only promises to make the situation worse.

Phil Clare Managing Director of BU Innovations and the Head of Research and Commercialisation at Bournemouth University said “We are extremely proud that Simon is one of Bournemouth University 's BSc Computer Aided Design graduates. We have great faith in Simon and the ‘Floodstop' Barrier and are delighted that our decision to invest has been endorsed by Simon winning these two awards. This builds on our success at supporting other budding entrepreneurs.”

“I am delighted to have been selected as an Entrepreneurial Fellow,” says Simon who is from Poole, “and equally delighted with the DTi Smart Award which means that I will now be able to start my own company dedicated to further developing the ‘Floodstop' which has now been patented.

“Being able to develop and pursue my business idea in both the UK and the US will be a great opportunity and give me the guidance I need to help mature my concept,” says Simon. “It will be fascinating to learn about entrepreneurship in a country where it's held in such high esteem and I look forward to bringing the lessons back to share with my fellow students and across the university.”

Simon will begin preparations for his visit to the US from early October, guided by the NCGE and supported by their Higher Education Institution (HEI), and will then spend six months in the US from January 2007. In the States, t he Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation will host the students and organise their Fellows experience, which will be both practical and educational and include interaction with leading scholars and thinkers, policy leaders, innovative researchers, and business founders.

The scheme will be tailored to each Fellow to ensure it meets their individual needs and knowledge gaps and helps them develop commercial know-how and relevant new business contacts.

At the end of the programme students will be expected to take what they've learnt back to the UK not only as a means of developing their own ideas but to share with other aspiring entrepreneurs and educators within their higher education institution and across their region.

Further information about Bournemouth University 's support of Innovation can be found at http://www.bournemouth.ac.uk/s2b/bui.htm

Further information about Bournemouth University 's Postgraduate Graduate in Business Formation can be found at http://www.bournemouth.ac.uk/courses/PGCBF

Further information about the Kauffman Fellowships can be found at http://www.ncge.org.uk/ef/index.htm

CONTACTS

Bournemouth University Press office:

press@bournemouth.ac.uk

Charles Elder; Tel: +44 (0) 1202 961032; Mob: (07768) 771870

Zoë Monk ; Tel: +44 (0) 1202 961033; Mob: (07738) 143100

 

News 26th July 2006

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