Promotional material

Applying for the UKTI Sirius Programme

Published 19 January 2015

This promotional material was withdrawn on 16 September 2016

Change in how the scheme is being run – so this guidance is no longer relevant.

Applications for the UKTI Sirius Programme are currently closed. To register your register your interest email info@siriusprogramme.com

1. Who can apply

The programme is aimed at the following:

1. Graduates who have started a business which is in its early stages

If you’re entering with an existing business, your business should only be trading for a maximum of two years.

1. Graduates who have business ideas

UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) are looking for those with the best ideas, who want to develop their businesses in the UK.

2. Benefits

Those who join the programme will receive various benefits which include:

• a 12 month place with a leading accelerator
• financial support worth £12,000 per individual for a year
• mentoring
• help to find customers
• help to relocate to the UK
• getting a visa
• no loss of equity in your business

3. Eligibility

There must be:

• up to 3 people in a team
• at least 50% being non-British citizens

All team members must have graduated recently or are graduating with one of the following qualifications:

• BA
• MA
• MSC
• MBA
• PHD

Team members must meet all the eligibility criteria to receive the benefits of the programme.

4. Applying

4.1 Before you apply

You should:

• check that you’re eligible
• prepare a 2 minute video for submitting with your application
• have evidence you’ve graduated or are graduating

4.2 Selecting the winners

Applications will be judged by an independent panel. Successful applicants will be interviewed by at least 1 accelerator before being offered a place.

Winners will not lose any equity in their business.

If you already have a business, you’ll be judged on:

• how feasible your product is
• finances
• team members
• your marketing strategy
• impact of your business being in the UK

If you have an idea, you’ll be judged on:

• entrepreneurial skills
• team members
• market potential
• impact of your business being in the UK

4.3 Being selected

All individuals participating in the programme must

• relocate to the UK for a minimum of 12 months
• start the accelerator programme by a date given by UK Trade and Investment (UKTI)
• have a valid visa to enter the UK

As a team you also need to:

• establish the headquarters of their business in the UK
• transfer all intellectual property (IP) agreements to your business in the UK

5. Working with an accelerator

Teams can continue to work with the accelerator when the 12 month programme finishes.

The accelerator will need to agree that the team can join their standard programme.

All team members are expected to:

• commit full time to the programme by
• work a minimum of 8 hours per day, Monday to Friday and occasionally on evenings or weekends if agreed with the accelerator

Participants are not allowed to study full-time (what does this mean, can they study part time?)

Any long term absences away from your accelerator base must be agreed with UKTI.

UKTI is working with 5 accelerator programmes as part of the Sirius Programme. Each accelerator has designed a specific programme for the winners.

Accelerators help start up teams to grow through mentoring, events, workshops and providing an office space where they can work.

The accelerators are:

• Entrepreneurial Spark
• Ignite 100
• Oxygen Accelerator
• Accelerator Academy
• The Bakery

As a winner you’ll get help to:

• access funding
• set up a bank account
• increase your sales
• get a visa
• find potential partners, customers and investors
• book meetings
• manage events
• recruit staff

You’ll also get support from business individuals and successful entrepreneurs. A mentor will help introduce you to business networks, clients and funding.