BioCity Scotland, the centre for life science businesses in Newhouse, Lanarkshire, will award a prize worth £10,000 at this year’s BioEntrepreneur Boot Camp Scotland, a three-day intensive business development programme designed to prepare scientists to be their own boss.

Participants on the programme, which runs from Wednesday 25th to Friday 27^th April, will be well-prepared to present their business ideas on the final day to a panel of leading entrepreneurs and subject experts. Judges will also take into account the winning delegate’s overall contribution to the programme. The prize consists of up to £7,000 worth of free accommodation in a 12 month period at BioCity Scotland and £3,000 worth of vouchers to be used with BioCity corporate partners for professional advice.

BioEntrepreneur Boot Camp Scotland is sponsored by North Lanarkshire Council and is designed for anyone thinking of starting a life sciences company or in the early stage of company development. It is suited to recent graduates, post-docs and academic researchers as well as those with experience within a larger organisation who feel the urge to break out on their own. The Boot Camp is ideal for anyone looking to commercialise a particular science or a great idea or simply to gain a greater understanding of entrepreneurism.

North Lanarkshire Council support is making available twenty sponsored places in a competitive application process.

The three-day programme is delivered by business professionals, many of whom have run their own firms or advise small companies. Delegates will work on practical exercises and case studies; they will enjoy lively discussion and networking, and will benefit from one-to-one mentoring. Topics covered include market research, financial planning, business law, intellectual property, leadership and business promotion. The individual sessions build towards the friendly ‘Dragons Den’ style competitive pitch to the panel of industry experts on the final day.

Dr Glenn Crocker, CEO of the BioCity group says: “Although the Boot Camp is deliberately designed to encourage delegates whatever their point on the business journey, we feel a little competitive incentive will add a note of reality at the end of the programme. Pitching for funding is something our new entrepreneurs will need to get to grips with and the rewards are worth all the hard preparation.”

Lending their support to the Boot Camp are solicitors Pinsent Masons and patent attorney Harrison Goddard Foote. Their staff will help deliver some of the more technical aspects of the schedule. Delegates, speakers and an invited audience will join together for a lively debate on the evening of 26^th April sponsored by solicitors McClure Naismith, ‘Entrepreneurship: Art or Science, Nature or Nurture?’ Recruitment consultants Eden Scott are supporters of the final day’s Dragons’ Den.

One of the delegates on the first-ever BioEntrepreneur School held in Nottingham was Dr Alison Reith, Business Development Officer at the West of Scotland KTP Centre: “The programme is ideal for technical experts and academics who need exposure to the world of business. I found the presentations extremely well-structured and relevant, and the opportunity to meet and talk with business experts was invaluable. By the end of the three days all the delegates had developed the confidence and skills to explain their business ideas to investors as well as developing a valuable network and sharing experiences. This Boot Camp is an excellent opportunity for life science entrepreneurs to learn new knowledge and skills through a first class business training scheme”.

Further details can be found at http://bootcamp.biocity.co.uk.

Potential tenants, university representatives and organisations interested in becoming involved in any way with BioCity Scotland should make contact via the website www.biocity-scotland.co.uk