EXPERIENCING ENTREPRENEURSHIP

“On the ground insights from our fantastic Brunel University London, Industrial Design & Technology Intern Megan Bates who, is working with the CRL for a year on Design and Communication (and much much more!)”

As a current student at Brunel University London, I can’t shout enough about how great the university and my experience there has been so far. Added to this is the importance they place on experiencing design and engineering outside of studying. This has meant that I have been able to spend my third year on placement at the Central Research Laboratory, where I have been able to put into practice all of the skills that I have learnt in the first 2 years of my degree.

My Experience

As part of my role at the CRL, I have been working with the team on design and communication; creating video documentation of the CRL programme, learning news skills and using software that I previously hadn’t used at university. I have had access to all of the workshops and experience days that are provided for the startups, through which, I have learnt vast amounts about business, law, finance, branding and PR within startup companies, alongside how to pitch an idea or business successfully. I have also had the opportunity to aid some of the startup teams with their user research, external events and branding design. In addition to my day-to-day responsibilities I’m working on my own product design brief over the next year, which has allowed me to continue to develop my design and research skills and use the workshops for product disassembly and soon, prototyping.

Being at the CRL has enabled me to see firsthand how the university, through its innovative partnerships, supports local manufacturing, entrepreneurship and the community, as well as us, the students.

Investment in the Future

The great partnership between the Central Research Laboratory and Brunel University London has provided a substantial amount of support to the CRL; from funding to connections and expertise. Not forgetting of course, some of the applicants to the programme, selected from its talented and passionate graduates. This enables the tailored CRL physical product startup programme to be brought to life!

Real World Experience

Having a facility for students with great product ideas to potentially “graduate” to after university, means that there is an amazing, inspiring platform which promotes entrepreneurship within the student community earlier on in their studies, which to many, may have previously felt unreachable and intimidating.

Ongoing Support

The Central Research Laboratory provides the expertise and support that any driven and determined student would need to set up, run and thrive in their own business, making the CRL vital to Brunel University London and their graduates and contributing a great deal to the ever emerging physical product startup ecosystem.

From my short time working here as an intern, I can appreciate the work that the team at the CRL are doing for the local community in Hayes and crucially for the startups based here. It’s not just a short term investment or a quick fix but it’s looking at the long-term to provide a needed home and specialised design and prototyping facilities to help make entrepreneurship possible. In the short time I’ve been at the CRL I’ve already witnessed a huge progression from the students who are becoming successful businessmen and women.

Hear from Andrew Ward, Director of Corporate Relations at Brunel University London, as he portrays the partnership we have.

11/01/2016 written by MEGAN BATES