Entrepreneurship training for doctoral students and early career researchers (SPERO)

Grow your entrepreneurial mindset to benefit your current research and future career with the SPERO programme.

This free programme for doctoral students and early career researchers will help you develop your entrepreneurial knowledge, skills and mindset.

Whether your future career lies in academia, consultancy, working for a large-scale organisation or running your own business, the SPERO programme can help prepare you.

You'll receive UCL DocSkills training points through Inkpath on completion of each workshop or programme.

Who it’s for

The SPERO programme is for doctoral students and early career researchers from any discipline. No prior business experience is required.

It’s open to:

• MRes students
• doctoral students
• post-doctoral researchers
• early career researcher staff members (within 6 years of graduating from doctoral studies)
• research students who graduated from UCL within the past 2 years

What you’ll learn

You’ll learn the fundamentals of how to establish an impactful startup or social enterprise, or an enterprising project within a bigger organisation (academia or industry).

After this programme, you’ll be better equipped to:

• take calculated risks to impact and add value to society
• use your knowledge, time and money effectively to reach your goals
• create innovative solutions to grow a project from idea to fruition
• learn from your experiences and reflect on failures to drive growth
• communicate your vision to a wide range of audiences

The programme

The programme is divided into three stages:

• SPERO Discover: How to think entrepreneurially about your career
• SPERO Learn: How to create a business or social enterprise
• Venture Builder: Turn your idea into reality

We recommend you complete these stages in order.

SPERO Discover: How to think entrepreneurially about your career

In this 2-hour introductory workshop you'll explore the similarities between research and entrepreneurship, and learn new ways to apply the enterprising skills you’re developing as a researcher.

Find out more and book your place via the links below.

Term 1 dates

• Thursday, 28 November, 9:30am to 11:30am (in person)
• Thursday, 5 December, 4pm to 6pm (online)

Term 2 dates

• Thursday, 16 January, 9:30am to 11:30am (in person)
• Friday, 31 January, 4pm to 6pm (online)
• Thursday, 20 February, 9:30am to 11:30am (in person)
• Friday, 7 March, 9:30am to 11:30am (online)
• Thursday, 20 March, 12pm to 2pm (in person)

Term 3 dates

• Thursday, 1 May, 9:30am to 11:30am (online)
• Friday, 16 May, 4pm to 6pm (in person)
• Thursday, 29 May, 9:30am to 11:30am (online)
• Friday, 6 June, 12pm to 2pm (online)

SPERO Learn: How to create a business or social enterprise

This course provides a practical introduction to entrepreneurship. You’ll learn how to establish an impactful startup or social enterprise, or an enterprising project within a bigger organisation (academia or industry).

Following the course, you'll have access to one-to-one advice sessions with SPERO tutors.

Find out more and book your place via the links below.

Term 1 dates

• 15 to 25 November
• 2 to 10 December

Term 2 dates

• 22 to 28 January
• 13 to 26 February
• 19 to 24 March

Term 3 dates

• 29 April to 9 May
• 2 to 13 June
• 7 to 10 July

Venture Builder: Turn your idea into reality

This practical 10-week programme will help you to turn your entrepreneurial idea into a viable business or social enterprise.

A series of workshops and one-to-one guidance will help you get your idea ready for market. You’ll also take part in a pitching competition to win a share of the prize money.

Find out more and book for:

• 20 January to 27 March 2025
• 6 May to 11 July 2025

SPERO alumni network 

The SPERO alumni network provides opportunities for you to meet fellow researchers and entrepreneurs at regular events including panel discussions, fireside chats, networking sessions and socials.

The network is open to everyone who has completed a SPERO workshop or is currently participating in SPERO. When you attend a workshop, you'll be added to the network mailing list and informed about upcoming events.

Filming and photography takes place at our events for promotional purposes. The photographs and recordings will appear on our website and social media channels. If you do not wish to be filmed or photographed, please let a member of staff know on arrival.

Read our privacy notice to understand how UCL Innovation & Enterprise will deal with your personal data.

UCL Innovation & Enterprise reserves the right to make changes to the programme, location and/or speakers without prior notice. Such alterations are occasionally necessary due to circumstances beyond our control.

The SPERO programme is part funded by Organisational Development and delivered in partnership with the Doctoral Skills Development Team.