York St John London Campus - Careers
Venture Creation Lab (VCL)
Find out about our start-up and leadership accelerator programme.
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The Venture Creation Lab (VCL) is our start-up and leadership accelerator programme, developed and delivered by entrepreneurs and industry professionals.
The VCL programme was launched in 2020 with the vision to become a hub through which impactful social innovation can flourish.
Through a structured 24 week programme, we support you through the entrepreneurial journey, from ideation to investment-readiness, and everything in between.
You will learn how to evaluate and assess your market, your customer, and yourself, helping to turn your passion into a reality.
Who VCL is for
VCL is an enterprise and leadership pathway for students with a passion for entrepreneurship.
Maybe you have a great idea and are not sure where to start. Maybe you have an existing business and would like to know how to reach the next level of growth. Maybe you have a side-hustle and want to explore how you can make it a full time opportunity.
If you aren't looking to launch a business in the near future, VCL also serves as a leadership development programme. It will further advance your skills and knowledge including effective communication, influencing, negotiation, accountability and coaching.
Whether you are looking to start your company or develop your entrepreneurial mindset, the VCL programme will equip you with the right tools and knowledge for success.
Why choose VCL?
VCL gives you a unique opportunity to be part of a community of passionate entrepreneurs. You'll have access to a range of opportunities and industry experiences, developing your skills throughout the process.
How VCL is taught
We coach, mentor and empower you. Teaching sessions include:
- Interactive workshops
- Case studies
- Industry speakers
- Tutorials
The programme culminates in our Big Pitch Competition. This is your chance to pitch and compete for further mentorship, cash prizes, and investment to supercharge your business and propel you forward.
Student testimonial
The VCL program benefited me in many ways. It covered many aspects of starting and running a business, including market research, business planning, legal considerations, marketing strategies, and financial management, which I needed a lot of support with as I am not from a finance background. From my experience, I believe you can gather a vast amount of knowledge during VCL. The mentorship, guidance, feedback, networking opportunities, access to resources, exposure to investing and funding opportunities and peer learning opportunities increased my confidence and motivation.