1.  Establish and efficiently manage a high-quality business incubation facility. This will be for approximately ten small companies, providing all the usual benefits of a serviced office, as well as telephone and broadband internet access via the University network. High quality facilities management
will be provided by Manchester Science Park and the University Estates Department.

2.  Establish and facilitate a highly supportive environment, enabling companies to quickly develop from a fragile start-up to a resilient and commercially successful business.

These specialist support elements will include:

• Comprehensive and intensive package of business support
• On site services and support from University of Manchester Incubator Company, C-B-E and MSEC
• Proximity of modern fully serviced research laboratories
• Use of university library, computing services and catering and leisure facilities
• Assistance with marketing and business development
• Facilitating contact networks and providing networking opportunities
• Client introductions/referral opportunities

Our focus is very much sector specific, and so we recognise the importance of working in close partnership with a whole host of other agencies involved in business incubation and business support in the region.  Appropriate sign-posting and introductions to these other agencies will therefore be another key element of the Incubator support structure.

3.  Establish a fair and transparent selection process, involving an Advisory Panel

made up of members of the University Venture Community and Chamber Business Enterprises.

The Panel will also provide ongoing support aimed at ensuring an appropriate ?exit? in terms of accessing finance, facilities and providing grow on space from other partners in the University Incubation Network and Manchester Science Park.

As to what sorts of companies we are looking for to become clients
of the Incubator, this can be summed up as follows:

• Is it a viable business, with the potential for success?
• Does it ?fit?, in terms of its sector focus and stage of development, and taking into account existing client in the incubator?
• Is it an innovative / future-facing business proposal?

The viability and potential success of the business will be judged on all the usual criteria ? growth in turnover, numbers of job created,  and the strength of the management team - but also on the long-term sustainability of the company. We are not only interested in ?high growth? companies ? we also want to nurture ?modest growth? companies that may be more likely to survive into the long term.