15 October 2026
The University of Sunderland's Accelerator Fund has supported entrepreneurship and business start-up opportunities for students and recent graduates since 2016
Some of the successful businesses to have benefited from the University of Sunderland's Accelerator Fund
Student entrepreneurs and those who have supported them gathered this week to celebrate a decade of supporting business and innovation at the University of Sunderland.
Since 2016, the University’s Accelerator Fund has supported entrepreneurship and business start-up opportunities for students and recent graduates.
To mark this special milestone, a celebratory event took place at Hope Street Xchange, City Campus, on Monday 12 October.
The guestlist included some of the successful businesses to have benefited from the Accelerator Fund, such as PGCE Education graduate Emma Thompson, who was a member of staff at the University when she started her business – Emma Thompson Massage - Restorative therapy and Manual Lymphatic Drainage.
Emma uses a powerful and unique combination of therapies allowing focused and restorative care after surgeries, especially those relating to cancer treatment. Her clinic is based in Penshaw.
Emma said: “A big part of my business's success has been a direct result of the Accelerator Fund which allowed me to purchase expensive and extremely effective equipment.”
Lauren Young completed her Illustration and Design degree in 2019 and launched her freelance Illustration business – Lauren Young Illustration – accessing support from the fund to develop her range of homeware. Working from a farm-based studio, Lauren creates artwork which she uses to design a range of plantable cards, stationery, and homeware. She also specialises in live wedding illustrations and commissions.
Lauren said: “I genuinely don’t think I would be where I am today without the initial support I received from the University of Sunderland. The Start Up Skills sessions were invaluable in giving me the knowledge and confidence to develop my business.
“The Accelerator Fund allowed me to move into my first dedicated studio, with the funding contributing towards the rent, internet, consumables and a scanner. At the time, having a professional space to work from made a huge difference to the way I could run and present my business. It gave me somewhere to meet clients, pack and prepare orders and hold events, while also allowing me to separate my work from my home life. Most importantly, it gave me the space and foundations I needed for the business to grow at a time when I simply could not have afforded a studio myself.
“I’m incredibly grateful for the support because it played such an important part in getting my business to where it is today.”
Rob Parsons and Matt Eyre graduated from Digital Film Production at the University in 2014 and co-founded Sunderland-based video production company Roar Motion shortly after graduating, with £16,500 to purchase their own drone and train their staff.
Matt said: “The Accelerator Fund meant we were able to work with new and bigger clients as well as taking on more long-term contract work. It really did ‘accelerate’ our business.”
Speaking at the event, Sir David Bell, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Sunderland, said: “The north-east continues to have one of the lowest rates of business start-up activity in the country. Encouraging more people to take that first step into entrepreneurship is critically important.
“As a civic university, we see supporting enterprise as a key part of our role in strengthening the region's economy and creating opportunities for our communities.
“It is a source of real pride to see our graduates not only creating their own employment but also generating opportunities for others as their businesses grow.
“The impact of the Accelerator Fund extends well beyond financial support. It helps us maintain meaningful connections with alumni, many of whom give back by sharing their experiences with current students through talks, mentoring and workshops.
“The long-term value of this early investment cannot be overstated. Several founders with us today have sustained successful businesses for more than a decade, a remarkable achievement given the economic and societal challenges of recent years.”