Knowledge Dock is one of the University of East London’s hidden gems – home to 75 businesses, 1,098 square metres of office space and a host of opportunities for students at UEL. We met Duncan Boak, Head of the Knowledge Dock and Business Centre, and Tom Shore, Enterprise Marketing Executive, to find out more.
Tom and Duncan first told us about the enterprise programme which provides initial funding for students’ business ideas. Then they explained that co-working spaces are available to rent for £99 per month, providing students with a gateway into the business world.
The co-working experience is fundamental to the kind of cyclical relationship they are trying to build between companies and UEL students. Students and fledgling business owners are able to use these spaces to enhance their skills and accelerate their ventures. Co-working spaces also open the door to a wealth of networking possibilities, besides aiding the Business Centre in its efforts to create a community. “It’s about businesses being based here”, Duncan explained, “because they want to be a part of the university and its students, supporting them on their journey.”
Duncan is also the founder of the Fifth Sense foundation, which supports those experiencing smell and taste-related disorders. He himself suffers from ‘anosmia’, having lost his sense of smell some years ago.
Some of Knowledge Dock’s 75 businesses include: St John’s laboratory, who specialise in peer-reviewed primary and secondary antibodies; the Taylor Bennett Foundation which “aids black, Asian and ethnic minority graduates to pursue a career in communications”; and HP-Mos, a non-profit organisation which takes a holistic approach to health and wellbeing issues.
Working closely with Knowledge Dock, the UEL Enterprise Team runs an annual E-Factor competition: winners receive £6000 to “kick-start their business idea”. This year’s closing date is 25 March and selected applicants attend a four-day boot camp to develop their business ideas. After a series of knock-out rounds the winner will be announced on 29 May.
Last year’s winner was MA Psychology student Jessica O’George who founded the holistic wellness company ‘The Art of Life’.
For more information on E-Factor 2019 head to www.uel.ac.uk/efactor.
Rising East will be heading back to the Knowledge Dock in the coming weeks in order to profile some of the businesses based there.
