That’s the Entrepreneurial Spirit! - Let Ready

That’s the Entrepreneurial Spirit!

The 19th November 2019 marks National Entrepreneur’s Day - a full 24-hour honouring of those that have built (and are building) empires from nothing. So, in true Let Ready style, this month we’re celebrating the success of our local entrepreneurs and the city that makes it all happen.

You can celebrate at our latest space? Or where Let Ready all started?

Witan Studios isn’t just home to neat grass, a proud cow and a year-long popular table tennis table. No, it’s also home to a number of budding and established entrepreneurs.

Our single-founder business success stories include Expandly – the eCommerce SaaS solution that began life in true start-up style in the garage. Since then, founder Alan Wilson has raised more than £1.5m in investment, attended the San Fransisco Black Box accelerator and gained some big brand clients in the process. Then there’s New Socks, the digital design agency taking large and small local businesses by storm, thanks to founder Jeremy King’s creative vision. And let’s not forget our local Entrepreneur of the Year winner Jon Manning and his mental health support start-up Arthur Ellis.

But why have one entrepreneur when you can have multiple? Local co-founded success stores include Immense – the technology start-up that’s empowering tomorrow’s sustainable, efficient and customer-centric transport solutions. And our favourite breakfast, lunch and coffee spot Fourth & Fifth, co-founded by the owners of Thomas Connolly Estate Agents and Bogota Coffee who saw an opportunity for NYC brunch culture in the city.

Why Milton Keynes is great for entrepreneurs

So just why have all of these entrepreneurs set up camp in Milton Keynes? The aptly named City of Dreams is a hub for business growth thanks to its enviable transport links, big brand names, including Santander and Red Bull, and local business support.

It’s what makes MK one of the UK’s fastest-growing cities, why 3,000 companies have relocated here, and why it’s one of the top five cities in the UK for start-up businesses.

Not only that, but Milton Keynes also boasts a 7.5 million person talent pool living within an hour away, significant park life for those reflective meetings, a fantastic support network through groups such as Made in MK and some pretty famous concrete cows.

How to get involved

Whether you’ve got an idea that you want to get off the ground, a midnight revelation that you think will take off, or an entrepreneurial mindset that you think can help – there are plenty of ways to get involved in Milton Keynes.

Seedling start-ups can receive knowledge, coaching and office space at the Natwest Accelerator and Barclays Eagle Labs. The MK Investors Group, GrowthDeck and InvestMK can help booming businesses gain contacts, exposure and even investment. And, of course, emerging enterprises can use Witan Studios to set up camp as they get too big for their accelerator office boots.

For entrepreneurs that have been there and got people to invest in the t-shirt, you can get involved by mentoring accelerator cohorts, inspiring local school children and supporting local networking events.

How will you be celebrating on the 19th November? Share your entrepreneur idols and success stories over on our social media page.