Bathgate Group sponsored and attended the IdeaLab 2016 Student Showcase, at Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), on Wednesday 14th September. Gary Laverick, Bathgate Group CEO and Alastair Jones, Head of Underwriting at Bathgate Business Finance, were involved in judging presentations by four teams of student entrepreneurs, hoping to win support for their ideas, in a Dragon’s Den style pitching process.
The Centre for Entrepreneurship at LJMU is behind IdeaLab, a pilot accelerator programme for technology driven ideas. During the past ten weeks, four teams of students have been put through their paces, including having to perfect their business plans and develop their concepts ready for the IdeaLab 2016 Student Showcase.
The four teams presented a range of ideas including: a conference delegate app, technology to improve solar panel efficiency, a student social app and a new approach to identifying airport runway debris.
Only one team could win the IdeaLab trophy and the judges decided that the prize should go to DIGI-HAWK, for their innovative idea of airport runway debris detection. DIGI-HAWK was presented with the winner’s trophy by Gary Laverick.
Gary Laverick commented that the “creative ideas and professionally presented business plans, together with the students’ enthusiasm and product knowledge, made for a truly inspirational event. Everyone involved deserves great credit”.
All of the teams involved in the IdeaLab Student Showcase have opportunities to continue progressing with ongoing support from the Centre for Entrepreneurship.
Bathgate Group is involved in a five-year partnership with the Centre for Entrepreneurship at LJMU providing financial support to entrepreneurs through the Bathgate Start-up Fund.
Rod Walker, Founder and Chairman of Bathgate Group is a former Pro-Chancellor of Liverpool John Moores University and as an Honorary Fellow has been involved with the group for some 50 years. He explains how the Directors of the company were seeking an opportunity to give something back and support a new generation of enterprising graduates in a tangible way.
“Bathgate is privileged and delighted to be able to support Liverpool John Moores University in the important work of Entrepreneurship through the start-up Fund. The health and welfare of the community is best achieved by the provision of employment and this is vital for our future.”
Bathgate Group comprises a range of companies including Bathgate Silica Sand, Arclid Transport, Bathgate Flooring, Bathgate Business Finance and Databax Hosting Solutions. Each Bathgate company shares a common objective to provide customers with the highest level of trust and confidence in all of their products and services.
“creative ideas and professionally presented business plans, together with the students’ enthusiasm and product knowledge, made for a truly inspirational event. Everyone involved deserves great credit”
