Welcome to the Borders College Start-up Zone
**This page is under construction**
Ignite Your Ideas. Shape Your Future.
At Borders College, the Start-up Zone is your launchpad for innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurial thinking. Whether you dream of starting your own business or simply want to build skills that make you stand out, we’re here to support your journey.
What does entrepreneurial mean to you?
You might think of Sir Richard Branson or Lord Alan Sugar—big names in business. And yes, they are great examples of entrepreneurs. But being entrepreneurial is about much more than starting a company.
It’s about thinking creatively, solving problems, working with others, and coming up with innovative ideas. These are core skills that apply to every subject, every job, and every path you might take.
You don’t need to start your own business to benefit from entrepreneurial thinking. These are transferable skills that will help you succeed in any workplace—and in life.
Borders College invites students, staff, and local high school pupils to enter our exclusive Business Idea Competition!
This is your chance to showcase your creativity, pitch your idea to a panel of experts, and win a share of £1,000 — plus the incredible opportunity to gain a wild card entry into the Scottish EDGE Final!
Who Can Enter?
- Current Borders College students
- College staff
- High school pupils from our local community
Whether you’re flying solo or working as part of a team, we want to hear your big ideas!
What’s Up for Grabs?
- A share of £1,000 in prize money
- Expert mentoring and advice on business support and funding
- Recognition across Borders College and beyond
- Wild Card Entry into the Scottish EDGE Final — a rare opportunity to fast-track your business idea onto a national platform!
How to Enter
Submit a detailed proposal that explains:
- Your business idea and its potential
- Your target market
- How you would use the prize money to make your idea real
📥 Download the Enter Here
📝 Register using the link inside the pack
Judging Criteria
Your proposal will be evaluated by a panel of local business leaders and College staff, based on:
- Innovation
- Feasibility
- Scalability
- Positive Impact
Key Dates
Applications Open: 11th March 2024
Submission Deadline: 20th May 2025
- Story Telling Workshop: Start-Up Hub 29th April 2025
- Pitching Workshops: Start-Up Hub – 20th May 2025
- Final Pitch Event: Start-Up Hub – 27th May 2025
- Idea Generation Workshop - 25th Feb 2025
- Marketing and Branding Workshop - 25th March 2025
Why You Should Get Involved
✅ Showcase Your Talents – Pitch your idea in a real-world business setting
🤝 Build Your Network – Connect with entrepreneurs, mentors, and fellow creators
💸 Win Funding – Get a financial boost to kick-start your venture
🚀 Go National – Compete for a wild card into Scottish EDGE, Scotland’s top business funding competition
🧠 Boost Your Skills – Develop META and business skills in a hands-on, supportive environment
Ready to Pitch?
- 📥 Download your Pitch Pack
- 📝 Submit your proposal
- 🗓 Mark the key dates
- 🎤 Start preparing to wow the judges!
Let Borders College support your entrepreneurial journey — and possibly launch you onto the national stage with Scottish EDGE!
Start-up is a mindset. It’s about taking initiative, adapting to change, and turning ideas into real, meaningful outcomes. It’s also about collaboration—listening, sharing, and building something greater together. Whether you're studying engineering, health and social care, hospitality, IT, or the creative industries, these skills will serve you well.
Through the Start-up Zone, you’ll:
- Get inspired by real-world challenges and hands-on opportunities
- Access expert guidance and practical resources
- Develop your ability to think critically, collaborate, and lead
Entrepreneurship doesn’t happen in a bubble. That’s why we work with a network of active partners to bring your learning to life.
Thanks to our collaborations with organisations like South of Scotland Enterprise (SoSE), Techscaler, Business Gateway, and the South of Scotland Destination Alliance (SSDA), you’ll get access to:
- Business visits and insight days
- Mentoring from local entrepreneurs
- Live projects and creative challenges
- Guest speakers from a wide range of industries
- Opportunities to shadow, collaborate, and connect
We also work alongside other colleges and universities, helping you expand your network and learn alongside others with different skills and ideas.
At Borders College, we believe that strong businesses build strong communities—and strong learners help make both happen.
That’s why our Start-up Zone thrives on collaboration. We’re not just asking businesses to “give back”—we’re inviting you to grow with us. You bring real-world insight and opportunities. We bring fresh thinking, creative energy, and future talent. Together, we can build something brilliant.
You Get Fresh Ideas
Our students offer bold, creative thinking—no “we’ve always done it this way” mentality. Working with learners can spark innovation in ways you might not expect.
You Spot Future Talent Early
From graphic designers and hospitality leaders to social care innovators and digital problem-solvers—these are your future employees, collaborators, and entrepreneurs.
You Build a Stronger Community
By supporting learners, you’re investing in the Borders' future workforce—and helping shape the next generation of local businesses.
You Get Recognised
We celebrate our partners. From shout-outs on social media to features in college news and events, your involvement will be visible.
And What Do We Need From You?
We’re looking for real-world input—nothing flashy, just practical, honest collaboration:
- Set a live brief for students
- Offer a visit, workshop, or talk
- Provide mentoring or feedback on learner ideas
- Help shape Start-up Week or competitions
- Tell us what you need from future employees—so we can help build it into learning
“It’s not just about us helping students. They help us too. Their ideas, questions and perspectives challenge our thinking—and that’s refreshing.”
— Business Partner, Borders Region
Whether you’re a small local business or part of a larger organisation, we’d love to work with you. No pressure. No red tape. Just shared value and a genuine partnership.
We believe every learner has the potential to make an impact—locally and globally. That’s why entrepreneurial thinking is embedded throughout the curriculum, helping you understand how your ideas and talents can contribute to industry, society, and positive change.
As you progress through your course, you’ll build experiences that are directly transferable to the workplace. Whether you're entering employment, launching your own project, or going on to further study, we’re here to give you the tools, confidence, and support to thrive.