Northampton teacher urges start-ups to connect and grow at conference

Sharon Oh, who produced the Augmented Vacancies recruitment app while still a student, will host the ‘Think Start Up’ conference – aimed at helping small companies develop their own business ideas.

The all-day event - on Wednesday, May 18 - will feature an array of workshops, talks, networking events and a Dragon’s Den-style competition to help technology businesses pitch their own ideas to fellow professionals.

The event, supported by Ricoh, will give start-ups the opportunity to access the basic information they need to help get their business off the ground, as well as offering legal advice, accountancy tips and a masterclass in how to make the most of social media.

Miss Oh, who teaches at the Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts at Kingsthorpe College, managed to grow her company while still a student thanks to a similar two-day business bootcamp last summer.

She said: “Events like this really help businesses get off the ground and move their ideas along, it helped me to take my own business to the next level.

“It’s important to help play a part in connecting start-up businesses to work together to help them move onto greater things.

“The conference will feature a series of talks to inspire businesses take on new challenges, and the pitch will create a highly competitive atmosphere.

“We have an incredible line-up of speakers to share their experience and to talk about what it takes to build a great business. We are thrilled to have them all on board.” 

Attendees can learn from the best business brains in the hands-on workshops scheduled for the day, with the chance to expand their knowledge by working in small groups. There will also be the chance for a one-to-one session with a business adviser.

‘Think Start-Up’ will be held at the Business and Leadership Centre at MK College’s Silbury Campus.

Augmented Vacancies is the first online job site incorporating Augmented Reality and a GPS system, allowing those seeking employments to apply while on the move.