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• Applications close: 15 July 2026
• Video interviews take place from 27 July to 6 August 2026
• Application results will be sent out on 7 August 2026
• Programme starts on 30 September 2026

The Crucible Project 2026/27 is a curriculum of 28 sessions of scheduled face-to-face content from September 2026 through to June 2027.

Each Wednesday the Crucible will host an expert, at the Innovation Centre on ¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ Campus, to deliver a face-to-face masterclass on a dedicated topic which has been specially designed for businesses at the early start-up stage.

Alongside this each member will get access to a dedicated private co-working space at the Innovation Centre and access to the public co-working Cafe, Monday to Friday. Plus access (advanced booking) to our makers spaces and machinery where you can prototype and create your ideas and products.

Block 1: Business Foundations

• 30 September: Induction Bootcamp 1 
• 7 October: Induction Bootcamp 2 
• 14 October: Basics of Finance - Ellen O’Hara  
• 21 October: Content Break 
• 28 October: Resilience in Business - Abigial Hall 
• 4 November: Intellectual Property Basics - Gemma Ryan   
• 11 November: Branding Foundations – Sharon Jones  
• 18 November: Project Planning  
• 25 November: Utilising AI - Michelle Williams 
• 2 December: Business Banking and Registration   
• 9 December: Web Templates – Sharon Jones 
• 16 December: Content Break   
• 23 December: Content Break   
• 30 December: Content Break

Block 2: Building The Brand

• 6 January: Bootcamp 3
• 13 January: Managing Suppliers and Clients - Sébastien de La Hamayde  
• 20 January: Professional Marketing - Jenny Cross  
• 27 January: Social Media and Your Business - Mike Biagioni  
• 3 February: Intellectual Property Part 2 - Gemma Ryan 
• 10 February: Reviewing your Brand 
• 17 February: Content Break  
• 24 February Cyber Security  
• 3 March: Finances Continued - Ellen O’Hara  
• 10 March: TikTok Shops and Instagram Sales - Mike Biagioni 
• 17 March: Website Launch - Sharon Jones 
• 24 March: Content Break 
• 31 March: Content Break 
• 7 April: Content Break

Block 3: Launch Readiness

• 14 April: Bootcamp 4  
• 21 April: Diversification Moving Forward Ellen O’Hara 
• 28 April: The Mindset of Sales - Saroj Baines 
• 5 May: Resilience in Business Part 2 - Abigail Hall 
• 12 May: Showcase Planning 
• 19 May: Showcase Planning 
• 26 May: Crucible Showcase  
• 2 June: Content Break 
• 9 June: Bootcamp 5

The Crucible is free for both full members and lite members. The programme is funded by HEIF (The Higher Education Innovation Fund) which allows ¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ to provide expertise, office space and some start-up funding support to our members. It's worth knowing that Crucible is not a source of capital investment. Take a look below to learn more ("What funding support is available?").

Learn more about our full and lite memberships

For 2026/27, The Crucible can offer each of our full members up to £1,000 worth of support.


We have made access to funding easier and are taking on more entrepreneurs than ever before.
 Each business will be gifted a free website, hosted and managed by Kangaroo UK, with 12 months of fees paid for at a value of £300. Kangaroo UK will help you build your brand and your website through our masterclasses and providing 12 months of support from our launch date.


Additionally, up to £700 budget can be unlocked simply through engagement in the programme which can be spent on registering your business, prototyping, merchandise, marketing and removing barriers

Some restrictions apply.

Confirmation of programme acceptance will be on August 7. Applications are now open however you will not receive a response until after applications close on 15 July, where you will be invited to a 20-minute video interview on the weeks of 27 July and 3 August. If you are successful with your video interview you will be notified on 7 August 2026 to start the programme on 30 September.