University News Last updated 11 November 2011
In partnership with YogaBugs - UK's leading provider of educational yoga classes for children – the University’s Research, Innovation & Enterprise Services (RIES) have now launched a competition which is open to all UK graduates and third year students.
The prize is a free franchise contract with YogaBugs with a market value of £10,000 that includes free business and full teacher training. The successful graduate will be required to run a Yogabug franchise which is based on delivering interactive but fun classes that aim to get children active through yoga inspired activities.
To enter the competition the candidates will be required to submit a short two-page business case. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a finalist’s day to meet the three judges and make a short presentation. The closing date for entries is Thursday 24, November 2011.
The judges for the competition are Mark Goode CEO YogaBugs, Jabba Khan Director Lasan and Professor Chris Prince Executive Dean of Birmingham City Business School (BCBS).
The competition winner and two runners up will be invited to the Midlands Business Awards on Friday 3, February 2012 at the Metropole Hotel NEC. The winner will be announced at the awards with all three finalists receiving an inscribed trophy designed and produced by the University Jewellery Industry Innovation Centre (JIIC).
YogaBugs and Birmingham City University
Founded in 2004, YogaBugs is the UK's leading provider of yoga for children running classes in primary schools, nurseries, children's centres as well as private settings. YogaBugs classes follow a story style format with children going on intergalactic adventures to rescue lost astronauts and sailing the high seas to search for lost treasure.
The company is structured on a franchise model with teacher training opportunities. International master franchises are available, the first of which, YogaBugs Australia, was set up in 2010.
Birmingham City University started working with YogaBugs in 2009 to help with the redesign of the company’s marketing and franchising materials. Oliver Tuck, a graduate from the Birmingham Institute of Art and Design (BIAD) was recruited in the summer of 2010 and during his time with YogaBugs the marketing materials have been redesigned in line with a new corporate strategy, the franchisee training manuals have been updated and more recently a completely new website has been launched.
Now, with the need to get new graduate talent into the company to run the franchise operations, YogaBugs are now working with to run a competition to win a free franchise agreement with YogaBugs.
• Since 2003, the University has supported 200 business start-ups and of those 68 per cent of those businesses created are still trading and contributing to UKPLC. As a creative University, it’s recognised that a number of students will enter self-employment and this self-employment opportunity fits the ambitions of the University' to support enterprise, employability and entrepreneurial skills in this uncertain economic climate.
For further details or an application pack to apply, please contact Catherine Shelley, PA to the Director of RIES on 0121 331 5252 or email startup@bcu.ac.uk