UWS Ignite Pitch Perfect Programme

Applications for 2025 are closed.
Applications will reopen early 2026.

UWS Ignite Pitch Perfect Programme

Programme Overview

Do you have a business idea or early-stage business you wish to get off the ground?

The UWS Ignite Pitch Perfect Programme has been designed to support UWS students, staff and graduates in taking their first steps towards developing an innovative idea for an enterprise. Aimed at the earliest stages of company creation and business development, providing financial support to help refine and test business ideas. We are seeking individuals who are interested in something different, who are keen to unleash those creative, innovative, and unique ideas whilst developing a reusable skillset that will be beneficial for the future.

This programme is an exciting opportunity for you to access seed funding and expert mentorship, whilst transforming your ideas into viable businesses. No prior business experience is necessary—only a strong idea and the willingness to learn.

This programme includes:

5 Workshops
3-Minute Pitching Competition
Mentorship
Incubation Spaces

Our workshops will include interactive sessions held over 5 weeks held at our UWS Paisley campus, with real-world applications, and a 3-minute pitching competition.

All workshops will be delivered and supported by the UWS Ignite team, Founders Club, and Converge.

Workshops will be mandatory and part of the programme which will guide and support students to move onto the competition application stage. If you are unable to attend any of the workshops, please let the team know at enterprise@uws.ac.uk.

Programme Requirements

Attend all 5 workshops (dates shown below).

Enter our competition for a chance to win seed funding for your business. After our workshop series is finished, you can register for our competition stage here. Please complete your application form before Friday 7th November. You will then be required to do a 3-minute pitch on campus.

Competition winners will be notified after the judging process takes place and awarded at a later date with their prizes.

Who Can Apply?

Our programme is open to any student currently enrolled at the University of the West of Scotland, at any level and at any Scottish campus, to all UWS staff members, and recent Alumni who have graduated within the past two years. Unfortunately due to the in-person workshops taking place at UWS Paisley campus this term, we are unable to open this programme up to UWS London students/staff at this time.

You can apply as an individual applicant or as part of a team. If you are participating as a team entry, then you can only have a maximum of 4 team members and must all be involved in the business development process.

Participants must meet the following criteria:

Connection to UWS: Applicants must be a current student or alumni of the University of the West of Scotland. If you are entering as a team, then one member of the team is required to be a student/recent graduate from UWS.

Scotland Based: Participants should be located in Scotland.

Must have an early-stage business idea/business they wish to develop and start-up.

Workshop Overview

Workshop 1

Title - Discover & Empathy

Description - Explore innovation challenges facing society and your community using the Double Diamond framework. You’ll identify a challenge that matters to you and begin building empathy with the people it affects. It’s a creative session to stretch your thinking and explore how ideas take shape. You’ll walk away with a challenge area to work on and a set of early user insights.

Date/Timings - Wednesday 1st October, 1pm - 3pm

Host - Fraser Maitland/Andy Campbell (UWS Ignite and Founders Club)

Location - UWS Paisley Campus

Workshop 3

Title - Business Framing and Value Proposition

Description - Learn to define the “fit” between your customer and your idea using the Value Proposition Canvas and the Lean Canvas. You’ll clarify your target customer, understand their pain points, and shape a solution around real needs. You’ll walk away with a complete Lean Canvas and defined value proposition ready for early testing.

Date/Timings - Tuesday 14th October, 1pm - 3pm

Host - Sam Trett (Converge)

Location - UWS Paisley Campus

Workshop 5

Title - Pitching and Storytelling

Description - Craft and deliver a compelling pitch for your idea. Learn storytelling techniques, build a confident narrative, and practice delivering your pitch with feedback from expert coaches. You'll walk away with a ready-to-go pitch and the confidence to present your idea.

Dates/Timings - Wednesday 29th October, 1pm - 3pm

Host - Sam Trett (Converge)

Location - UWS Paisley Campus

Workshop 2

Title - Define the Problem

Description - Transform insights into clear problem statements using “How Might We…” methods. You’ll use stakeholder mapping and structured group critique to refine your focus and understand your ecosystem, learn who’s influencing your space and how to align with them. You’ll walk away with a validated problem statement and a prioritised map of stakeholders.

Dates/Timings - Wednesday 8th October, 1pm - 3pm

Host - Fraser Maitland (UWS Ignite)

Location - UWS Paisley Campus

Workshop 4

Title - Prototype & Commercial Awareness

Description - Bring your idea to life through low-fidelity prototyping—sketches, mock-ups, demos—then test your assumptions with peers. Learn how to protect your innovation with intellectual property (IP) knowledge. You’ll walk away with a prototype to test and an understanding of how to protect your concept.

Dates/Timings - Wednesday 22nd October, 1pm - 3pm

Host - Fraser Maitland/Andy Campbell (Ignite and Founders Club)

Location - UWS Paisley Campus

How to Apply

This form will register you for all our 5 of our workshops above which will be held at our UWS Paisley Campus (The Hive), on the above dates/timings. All participants must attend these workshops as part of the programme. If you are unable to attend one of our workshops, then you must let our team know as soon as possible by contacting us at enterprise@uws.ac.uk.

After you register, our team will reach out to confirm your place on the programme. Any key updates/information for the programme will be sent out directly to your student/staff email that you provide in your registration form.

Please register for our programme before Sunday 28th September, 5pm.

After you complete all 5 of our workshops you will then be at the stage to submit your competition application form below (Step 2). Please do not complete and submit this form before the final workshop end date.

1

2

Complete the programme registration form to apply for the Programme (workshops & competition)

Complete/submit application form for our competition stage (competition)

This form is required to be completed and submitted after attending all 5 of our workshops. The deadline for submission is Friday 7th November, 12pm.

If you required support for your application form, then you can contact our team at enterprise@uws.ac.uk.

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Live 3-minute Business Pitch

In Person Pitch – You will be required to present a 3-minute business pitch to our panel of judges. This will be held on campus.

Key Competition Dates

Applications

Applications Open

Wednesday 29th October 2025, 9am.

Applications Close

Friday 7th November 2025, 12pm.

Recorded Pitches

Video pitches are required to be submitted alongside your application form by 12pm on Friday 7th November. These will be reviewed by our final judging panel.

Judging is expected to take place on Tuesday 11th November.

If you are experiencing issues with attaching your video, then please let our team know.

NOTE: Pitches will be pre-recorded and there will be no requirement to give a live pitch.

Winners Announced

All winners of our competition will be announce on Wednesday 19th November, 1pm.

Competition Application & Selection Process

Applicants must clearly outline:

The core idea – What problem does it solve? What makes it unique?
How the funding will be used – A budget and spending plan.
A realistic timeline – Key milestones for development.
The long-term potential – How could this idea grow beyond the funding period?

Competition Prizes:

£5,000 Cash pot (Seed Funding) *If you are a UWS staff member, please note that staff prizes are paid in salary and may be tax deductible.
Gift Vouchers
Trophy/Certificate
Free Mentorship after programme (Founders Club/UWS Ignite Team/Converge)

Seed Funding

Funding can be used for:

Seed funding for early-stage ideas or business concepts.
Prototyping an idea, service, or product (including marketing, branding, or research).
Supporting start-up costs (e.g. registering a business, building a website, or running test events).
Attending industry training, networking events, or trade fairs that enhance your idea.
Developing a prototype to test market potential.
Covering your time and expertise in developing the project.

Funding cannot be used for:

Coursework-related activities.
Retrospective costs for completed projects.
Large-scale equipment purchases (e.g. laptops, vehicles etc.).
Rent, living expenses, or personal subsistence.
Debt repayment or business consultancy fees.
Membership fees for professional bodies or tuition fees.

Our team may ask you for an update on what the funding has been spent on a few months prior to the competition, which will require you to complete a short form to submit.

Student Visa Holders – Important Considerations

If you hold a Student Visa, you are eligible to apply; however, there are restrictions on self-employment and trading activities under UK Home Office rules.

You can use the fund for:

Pre-trading activities, such as research, training, business planning, mentorship, or attending events.
Developing a business idea that could later qualify for a Start-up Visa or other entrepreneurship-related visas.

However, the fund cannot be used for:

Engaging in paid entertainment work.
Undertaking activities classified as self-employment beyond the "pre-trading" phase.
If unsure, please contact UWS International Student Support for guidance before applying.
Fair Pay & Project Planning

Applications for 2025 are closed. Applications will reopen early 2026.