UK’s Sirius programme to attract young entrepreneurial talent with generous support

The UK is importing young entrepreneurial talent, to kick off scores of exciting innovative start ups. These include one which makes green energy from waste coffee.

The government's Sirius scheme aims to attract graduates from across the world with a 12-month support package, including financial aid of up to £48,000, to set up establishments in the UK.

The first batch of young entrepreneurs to be supported under the programme, come from countries like India, China and Germany as also African countries like Kenya and Nigeria.

Among the entrepreneurs is Tim Brown, an ex-footballer who played for New Zealand at the 2010 World Cup and who founded ToBe, a company that makes running shoes which do not need socks.

He said, the company's invention would totally revolutionise the way athletes trained.

He added, being based in the UK would enable the company to start up and develop alongside like-minded entrepreneurs and gain access to world class strategic advice and support.

Over 160 aspiring entrepreneurs from over 30 countries around the globe entered the first round of UK Trade & Investment's pioneering Sirius Programme, which offers opportunity for budding entrepreneurs with innovative start-up ideas to make the UK their home.

The Sirius Programme is aimed at attracting entrepreneurial talent into the UK, with hundreds of businesses expected to be set up in two years. The start ups would be expected to create new jobs, bring in foreign investment and make a significant cumulative impact on the UK economy.

Advantages of starting up in the UK include access to 500 million customers in Europe (62 million in the UK) and the fact that the consumers tended to be early adapters, keen to test and try new innovations.

Applications for the Sirius Programme will be accepted up to 15 January 2014.