The University of Warwick Science Park’s Business Support Service provides an end-to-end service for innovation led businesses ranging from start-up support to on-going strategic consultancy for established firms. Services include incubation facilities via Ignite, access to finance including the Minerva business angel network and professional route to market development from Techmark. Based out of the Venture Centre, the services offered are available across UWSP’s sites. Operating as genuine honest brokers, the support team are able to offer general advice and support to tenants on an ad hoc basis as well as putting together bespoke programmes for internal and external clients.

UWSP's incubation and business acceleration programmes draw on all of the assets within the Park and our business development team. They provide support to both start-ups and established firms. The team are able to offer bespoke solutions to businesses in the Coventry, Warwickshire and Solihull ranging from simple signposting to detailed business planning, management support and office and laboratory space.

Incubation is primarily offered through the IGNITE and LabStart programmes both of which are available to knowledge based businesses on application.

UWSP offers a range of services to businesses in need of external finance and investors seeking new opportunities. The Access to Finance team not only have experience of running a range of equity and grant funds but also manage the Minerva business angel network, which provided turn-key money for ten deals valued at £5.7m in 2010/11. However, UWSP offers a range of services for companies seeking further information about the process and costs of raising money and post-investment support, including non-executive services.

UWSPs technical marketing service, Techmark, has more than 15 years experience in bringing hundreds of new products to market and providing strategies to open new markets and refresh existing market propositions. It is more than just a marketing firm. With extensive technical knowledge and a focus on internationalisation, the team are able to use market appraisal and product review techniques to inform viable route to market development to achieve demonstrable results. Techmark are able to help start-ups define their market alongside product development and, equally, supplement established businesses internal teams on focused projects.

With experience of having worked with thousands of businesses, the UWSP team are well positioned to provide firms with strategic consultancy and business plan development. The team are passionate at helping technology businesses to accelerate their growth and are able to offer a range of flexible options including management workshops, one-on-one consultancy and business plan/business reviews on a competitive basis. Members of UWSPs business support team are drawn from a broad range of backgrounds including engineering, marketing, banking, venture capital and innovation fund management and corporate finance. Additionally, UWSP has a wide rand of associates covering most technical sectors and niche functions.