InCube

Helping creative retail businesses to start and grow in Paisley

InCube is Invest in Renfrewshire’s new business programme to launch and grow creative businesses. Thirteen young businesses are growing in the InCube with a package of support that’s worth more than £11,000 and includes funding and support from Renfrewshire s leading business people:

• Start-up office space in bright, newly refurbished & fully equipped premises in Paisley town centre, with free IT and WiFi
• Funding of up to £1,000 to get started
• No rental fees, rates or utilities expenses for up to 12 months
• One-to-one mentoring and coaching
• 1 year membership of Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce
• Expert branding, website & graphic design
• Specialist support to develop e-commerce and online trading facilities
• Workshops and tuition from industry experts on  how to” essentials such as marketing, book-keeping, sales, customer service and business growth planning

Who?

InCube is for start-up and new (younger than 3 years) creative businesses aiming to be high street or online retailers, or to supply goods and services to the retail sector.

Why?

Because businesses need room to develop. InCube businesses get free and stress-free office space, practical support, training, access to markets and the chance to be part of a community of like-minded people. All this is designed to give businesses the best start possible.

Where?

27 High Street, Paisley, where customised office space in a listed building, is buzzing with new enterprises. Paisley is fast becoming one of Scotland s freshest cultural centres whose regeneration strategy is based on its creative and craft heritage.

How?

We are looking for great plans for brilliant businesses. If you’re interested, please sign up for this amazing opportunity when we open the competition next year.

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The InCube Competition is open for businesses that:

• have been trading no earlier than 24th March 2012, and
• operate within the Renfrewshire council area, and
• have the potential to achieve a minimum turnover of £70k within the next 12-18 months of trading and/or will employ a full time member of staff within that period, and
• have a business bank account.

The competition is only open to retail businesses serving a niche market which will not adversely affect other retailers in the area. Businesses in the following sectors are not eligible to apply: the sex industry, politics, religion, nude or semi nude modelling or photography, gambling, multi level marketing/pyramid selling.

Sole traders, partnerships, limited liability partnerships and limited companies are all eligible.

Intellectual Property Rights

Individuals/teams must own, or have all necessary licences and approvals to use, the rights to the intellectual property necessary to start their proposed business.
It is important that any intellectual property issues that relates to the Business plan are addressed including the question of rights to commercialize the relevant technologies. It is also important that the projected costs associated with intellectual property protection and licensing (if the business is based on third party’s technology) have been taken into account.
If the business involves commercialization of a technology, it is a requirement that the applicant has the rights to the underlying technology before entering the Incubator.