Gateway to Growth is an innovative programme aimed at utilising the talents of University of East Anglia graduates in conjunction with Norfolk’s thriving small and medium enterprises. Based in The Enterprise Centre at UEA, Gateway to Growth operates on a regionwide basis, assisting the plethora of exciting businesses Norfolk has to offer.
The Growth Hub, one of the core elements of the programme, is comprised of two recent UEA graduates – Emma Bullen (English Literature and Creative Writing) and Marcus Stearn (History and Modern History). In addition to their combined seven years of university experience, Emma and Marcus have developed an eclectic portfolio of skills and specialisations within their roles. These skills range from social media content and marketing strategy; copywriting; in-depth research and analysis; web content production and editing; and events organisation.
One fundamental facet of the assistance Gateway to Growth can provide to businesses is flexibility. By operating on a basis of a set number of hours over an agreed number of weeks/months, there is the fantastic opportunity to establish a bespoke partnership which can align with the exact needs of the client. This flexible approach ensures that the primary aim of the partnership can be achieved in the most efficient way possible, with Emma and Marcus’ skillsets and operating dynamic complimenting each other significantly.
In just two-and-a-half years, Gateway to Growth has had the opportunity to provide dedicated support to a vast array of organisations, businesses, and projects. The case studies of this work can be found here. In recent months, they have had the exciting opportunity to work on a variety of new projects. They have been establishing a social media strategy and conducting search engine optimisation research for Hansatech Instruments Limited, who specialise in the manufacturing of bioscience equipment for high level research. They are also working on a project for Vortex Visual, as videography and virtual tour specialist business. They are launching their Instagram and Twitter profiles with both promotional material and industry relevant case studies. They have also conducted an extensive market research project for sports equipment manufacturer DEM Sports, specifically looking into the US marketplace.
Throughout the various strands of their work with businesses they have been able to operate in a way which can be wholly catered to the needs and desired outcomes of the client. Ranging from a short-term project of a few hours per week for a limited number of weeks, to a longer-term plan with greater hours for larger projects, the way they operate can be tailored to the project in a highly adaptable way. To find out more about the services provided, you can visit the website here. If you have any enquires and wish to get in touch, please feel free to email info.gateway2growth@uea.ac.uk.
