Whether it's just an idea, an international hi tech venture, a social enterprise or a small consultancy, FlyingStart is geared up to support entrepreneurial students and graduates, up to five years out of university, realise their ambitions and create new businesses. The website is targeted at graduates and students from universities in the UK. However we do allow a wider user base.

FlyingStart is dedicated to getting student and graduate businesses started. Over 500 new businesses have been started, 360 workshops ran and over 700 hours of training and support delivered since FlyingStart began. The website provides:

• FlyingStart Mentors
• Online Forum
• Online Networking
• Business news Email Alert
• Grants news Email Alert

And the following live events happen around the country:

• FlyingStart Workshops
• FlyingStart Programme

FlyingStart Online is completely free to join and to use.

We offer a selection of online support using mentors, expert-led one-day events, and mentor-led entrepreneurship Programmes. This gives you a range of essential support. Strong relationships with universities, businesses and Government can direct you to additional sources of help.

You can use this page to select Mentors who can support you in building a successful business. It is critical at all stages of business to have the right set of mentors. FlyingStart has selected some of the best in the UK to support you in realising your entrepreneurial talents and setting you on the right path for business growth.

It is best to choose Mentors in your region, associated with your university, or with specific industry expertise. When you add them they will be notified automatically and will make contact with you either on the site or directly, via email. You can add as many Mentors as you want and also remove those you no longer require.

Our Experts are professionals from business and higher education who can answer your questions relating to their fields of expertise. Their knowledge ranges from types and sources of financing, to protecting intellectual property rights and trademarks, to hiring employees and developing teams, to accounting and taxation, to international trade, and many more. Refine your search to find the best Expert to answer your question.

The first stage in business is to network and find the right team and customers who can help drive your business forward. From here you can connect with over 11,000 others like you, share tips, give support and make deals. Use the search fields to find people linked to your area of business, your region, or your university. Like other sites, click Add to Friends to begin building your network.

When you exchange Friend requests with other members, you'll both get to see more information about your businesses and yourselves, including photos. We're planning even more features soon to make communications even easier. For now, we recommend you use the internal FlyingStart Inbox for all communications with other members.

Programmes are 12-month business start-up courses for new graduate entrepreneurs. They are for those aiming to set up a trading business within one year or who have just set up in business. Programmes consist of a three-day intensive mentoring and training session (sometimes residential) plus 12 months' of mentoring and expert support. Apply if you are a current student, postgraduate or graduate (any degree), up to five years out of a UK university.

Read through the details for each one then click 'Apply' if one looks as though it will meet your needs. We will get back in contact with you to state if you are successful or not.

Workshops are free 2-6 hour action-focused events to build your entrepreneurship skills. You can learn how to turn your abilities, knowledge and passion into a real entrepreneurial opportunity just by attending a FlyingStart-MakeYourMark Rally.

The events are practical, informative, and inspirational. You will be face to face with people who can help you get started, and network with fellow enterprising students, businesses and entrepreneurs. Get lots of advice and support to move your ideas forward. Interested? Just click 'Attend' and we will sign you up!!

Events are one off presentations which are focused on a topic. The FlyingStart Programme is a one-year series of events to help create an entrepreneur from a graduate.

Once you have registered with FlyingStart Online you can select a Mentor yourself. Choose one who is local to you and also within your business sector. This means they should have a good knowledge of your sector. You can change Mentor if you want to via the website.

Your first point of contact will be your selected Mentor via Flying Start Online. Staff at the NCGE are always available to provide help and guidance in how the Programmes work and how you can get more from FlyingStart. If you do not get any communications from your Mentor then please contact the FlyingStart support team .

Each university has a main business or enterprise champion and they will appear on your homepage as one of the default mentors available. They will be able to provide you with help and advice about what resources and support your local university provides.

The Forums let you exchange ideas, voice issues, seek fast solutions to challenges you face, and offer opportunities to other members. People who have already benefited from FlyingStart Programmes, such as our FlyingStart Global Entrepreneurs, reply to threads here.

FlyingStart Online also provides a number of business readiness checklists whereby you can run through the tasks required to set up and develop your business, and also understand the metrics used by the business community to gauge if you will be successful.

You can email with any suggestions about the Programmes, events, or FlyingStart Online.

A deposit cheque of £100 is taken if you want to attend the programme. Once you have attended the three day course, the cheque is not cashed and then destroyed. Should you fail to attend, or leave after part of the programme without notifying the Programme Director of exceptional circumstances then we reserve the right to cash the cheque.