Introduction
ilumus' strength lies in the many organisations it works closely with to ensure its members get the very best support in their ventures. On this page you can find out about:
- Our current partners
- Our needs
- The benefits we can offer partners
Current Partners
University of Sussex Regional Development Office (RDO)
In the role as the University of Sussex’s enterprise champions the RDO works closely with local industry, government and all academic departments to encourage and promote enterprise. They are the primary providers of ilumus’s funding and organise numerous enterprise and entrepreneurship events. http://www.sussex.ac.uk/business
Sussex Innovation Centre (SInC)
ilumus has been made a virtual tenant of this award winning business incubator, located on campus, providing members with access to some of the best business support experts and facilities in the country. http://www.sinc.co.uk
Career Development and Employment Centre (CDEC)
The Career Development and Employment Centre actively support entrepreneurship as a career path for Sussex graduates. CDEC host a variety of workshops and seminars on starting a business and support the development of ilumus. http://www.sussex.ac.uk/cdec/
Sussex IP
Sussex IP is a wholly owned subsidiary of the University of Sussex, which exclusively manages and commercialises the University's intellectual property portfolio. Their staff can provide ilumus members with advice on intellectual property and commercialization. http://www.sussexip.co.uk
University of Sussex Students’ Union (USSU)
The University of Sussex Students’ Union supports a host of entrepreneurial activity with a huge variety of social enterprise projects from Project V to RAG and the many other societies and sports clubs, including ilumus. http://www.ussu.info
ACUMEN-UK
ACUMEN-UK is the umbrella organisation for university enterprise and entrepreneurship societies. The group is funded by the Cambridge-MIT Institute and organises regular meetings to identify links with other universities. http://www.acumen-uk.org/
Shell Technology Enterprise Programme (STEP)
University of Sussex Science & Technology Policy Research Unit (SPRU)
University of Cambridge Judge Business School - Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning (CfEL)
http://www.entrepreneurs.jbs.cam.ac.uk/
University of Sussex Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) in Creativity
http://www.sussex.ac.uk/creativity/
Brighton And Sussex University Enterprisers (BSUE)
http://groups.google.co.uk/group/BSUE
Our Needs
In order for our activities to continue to benefit our members, who will in turn realise real benefits to business and society, we have identified six areas of need in which we are dependant upon our partners for our continued success:
Being a student society ilumus has few people in its membership with real tried and tested experience and expertise in the field of enterprise and entrepreneurship. It is only through our partner organisations that we can provide members with the expert advice they need to succeed. |
As a student society, ilumus’ leadership team of students changes on an annual basis. To ensure consistent success in our activities we depend upon long term regular guidance from our partner organisations. |
The ilumus brand is young and needs to develop into one that is recognised across industry, academia and the community in the region if it is going to realise its true value. Word of mouth recommendations from our partners are the best way for our brand to gain strength. |
ilumus requires a limited amount of cash flow each year to cover a number of basic expenses, the more of this that can be generated from partner donations, the more time ilumus members can spend on the societies core activities. The bulk of our expenses fall into the following areas: marketing materials, technology (web & email), travel, activity materials, books and reference materials. |
ilumus hopes to organise an annual competition providing financial rewards to the best ideas for ventures in business and social entrepreneurship. A common goal towards which all our members can work over the course of a year will dramatically improve the value of all our activities. Our main requirement for being able to organise the completion is the provision of sponsored social and business enterprise prise funds of at least £500 each. |
Networking events and idea generation activities are best fuelled with high energy food and drink. Moderate quantities of alcohol can also be useful in encouraging people get to know new people and in building effective teams. |
Benefits to Partners
In return for support, ilumus can offer partners a range of benefits. There is a huge amount of scope for different ways in which a student society can help other organisations. We have initially identified the following possibilities:
ilumus has access to a great deal of academic skill combined with some of University’s best facilities. We can utilise this for you to conduct a variety of different kinds of research and investigations finished to a professional standard. |
ilumus can provide a direct marketing channel to the student body through the people that know them best. We can make use of this to provide heightened visibility of your organisation, products and services within the university community. |
ilumus members represent some of the brightest, most motivated minds at the University of Sussex. If you are looking for new employees that can help your company continue to develop successfully you are likely to find some of our members to be ideal candidates. |
Idea development is at the core of what ilumus does. We practice a variety of methods for developing ideas into viable ventures on a weekly basis. We can work with you to concentrate our efforts on particular areas that you have an interest in. This will provide you with a fresh, multi-disciplined perspective through which innovative new solutions to problems can be identified. |
ilumus can organise networking events to bring you and your people into direct contact with some of the brightest minds in the University from a whole range of disciplines. This will give you the opportunity to pass on your knowledge and experience while hearing fresh perspectives and ideas on a variety of topics. With representatives from all of our partner organisations at the events you can also make contact with a huge selection of people from the enterprise development community in and around the University of Sussex. |
ilumus is one of the fastest growing student groups on campus and arguably one of the most well connected and highly motivated societies. As a result our members provide a captive audience eager to listen to what you have to say and learn from your experience. |