Entrepreneur in residence: Steve steps up to nurture students’ ideas at Winchester Hatchery

A new startup hub at the University of Winchester is aiming to turn bright ideas into thriving new businesses.

Winchester Hatchery will offer a dedicated space for students and staff looking to develop their business dreams.

It’s headed up by Steve Northam, senior lecturer in business management and the university’s first entrepreneur in residence.

Steve has founded and developed several companies of his own – including co-working and business incubation provider IncuHive – and has picked up fame more recently for converting the fuselage of a Boeing 737 into a liveable Airbnb.

In 2022, he was awarded the Millennium Egg for lifetime achievement at the Winchester Business Excellence Awards.

Steve is now busy assembling a group of mentors to share their expertise with budding entrepreneurs to help them get their business ideas off the ground.

“The hatchery will be a bridge between academia and the real world of business,” said Steve.

“We want people to come to us with a well-developed idea and some form of business plan.”

The journey starts at one of the hatchery’s Dragon’s Den-style pitching events – the most recent being on 11 December at the university’s business school.

Almost 50 students presented their business ideas, including anti-tan-line swimwear, virtual events spaces and a spreadable butter stick device.

Some of these ideas may be among the first to be developed at the hatchery.

“The judges were impressed all around and are keen to catch up and offer further support for the students going forward,” said Steve.

Sarah Moore-Willams, dean of the Faculty of Business and Design Technologies, added: “The appointment of our first entrepreneur in residence and the launch of the hatchery shows our commitment to business and to helping our talented and innovative students turn their dreams and ideas into reality.

“I’m confident that the university will be the birthplace and launchpad for many successful businesses which will go on to create jobs and wealth for the city and the wider area.”

Another pitching event is planned for early March.

Steve is keen to hear from local businesspeople who’d like to be involved with the hatchery at steven.northam@winchester.ac.uk

• winchesterhatchery.co.uk