The Sirius Programme
This programme run by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) helps overseas graduates who have bright business ideas to set up in the UK.
International graduates with ambitions to start and grow a business should consider doing it in the UK. The UK is one of the easiest places in the world to do business and UKTI can help you get started.
Teams with ideas for a business or existing start-ups in the early stages should apply for this programme.
Previous Winners
See details of the winners who have taken part in the Sirius programme and what they’re doing now.
Benefits
Those who join the programme will receive various benefits which include:
- a 12 month place with a leading accelerator
- financial support worth £12,000 per individual for a year
- coaching and mentoring
- help to find customers
- help to relocate to the UK
- getting a visa
- no loss of equity in your business
Eligibility
There must be:
- up to 3 people in a team
- at least 50% being non-British citizens
All team members must have graduated since 2012 or are graduating in June 2014 with one of the following qualifications:
- BA
- MA
- MSC
- MBA
- PHD
Team members must meet the eligibility criteria to receive the benefits of the programme.
Applying
Before you apply
You should:
- check that you’re eligible
- prepare a 2 minute video for submitting with your application
- have evidence you’ve graduated or are graduating
Applying
The applications process is closed. Get updates about the programme on twitter @siriusprogramme
Selection processs
Applications will be judged by an independent panel. Successful applicants will be interviewed by at least 1 accelerator before being offered a place.
Winners will not lose any equity in their business.
What the winners must do
All the winners will need to:
- relocate to the UK for a minimum of 12 months as a team
- start the accelerator programme by October 2014
- establish the headquarters of their business in the UK
- transfer all intellectual property (IP) agreements to your business in the UK
Teams can continue to work with the accelerator when the 12 month programmme finishes. The accelerator will need to agree that the team can join their standard programme.
Help from Accelerators
UKTI is working with 5 accelerator programmes as part of the Sirius Programme. Each accelerator has designed a specific programme for the winners.
Accelerators help start up teams to grow through mentoring, events, workshops and providing an office space where they can work.
The accelerators are:
- Entrepreneurial Spark
- Ignite 100
- Oxygen Accelerator
- Accelerator Academy
- The Bakery
Map showing where the Business Accelerators are located in the UK