13 Jan 2021

Enterprising duo scoop awards

veronika(889014)

Two excelling entrepreneurs from University College Birmingham have received recognition from an award-winning programme supporting student businesses in Birmingham.

Hospitality graduate Veronika Jurickova was named January 2021's Entrepreneur of the Month by the Birmingham Skills for Enterprise and Employability Network (BSEEN), hot on the heels of Olga Marekova scooping the same award in December.

Veronika (pictured), who completed her BA (Hons) Hospitality and Tourism Management degree at University College Birmingham in 2019, received her honour from BSEEN in recognition of her wedding photography business, Veronika J Fine Art Photography.

The firm provides both photography and video for weddings as well as supporting small businesses with branding content, including images and promotional videos.

Veronika developed her business having sought start-up support during her studies through the university's Enterprise Hive, which offers help for student and graduate entrepreneurs to launch their own firm.

Support available includes participation in the BSEEN programme, featuring a range of benefits from an intensive start-up bootcamp and networking opportunities to tailored mentoring and even a £500 start-up grant.

“I started looking for start-up business advice at the University, and someone recommended the BSEEN programme, so I applied, ” Veronika said. “I was amazed by the fact that such support even exists.

“It felt so surreal that there is a programme offering a variety of support that could help me make my dreams come true. My mind was just blown away. ”

Although business has been affected by the pandemic, Veronika is raring to go once restrictions are eased, with upcoming bookings for more than a dozen weddings including a destination wedding in Italy.

Veronika revealed how being part of the BSEEN programme had helped her on her business journey to date, from providing books on starting up to boosting her skills and contacts.

“I learned about the power of networking, ” she said. “It's important to surround yourself with likeminded people because you can grow together and support each other - you never know who you will meet and how that connection may change your life.

“I had the chance to grow with our BSEEN community and was able to help several other businesses, while I also made some amazing friendships. ”

Veronika follows in the footsteps of current University College Birmingham student Olga, who was honoured as BSEEN's Entrepreneur of the Month late last year for her aviation business.

MSc Aviation Management student Olga launched Aviation Passenger Advice (APA) to provide support for airline passengers in increasing awareness of their rights and entitlement to compensation for delayed, cancelled or overbooked flights.

“I think BSEEN gave me the first kick that I needed to get me going, ” she said.

“I incorporated my business and met new likeminded people during the bootcamp training - people with their own dreams ready to fight to fulfil them.

“Whatever problem you have, you are not the only person who is struggling, and there is always a solution for it.

“I strongly believe BSEEN is the first step to take if you want to go forward with your dreams."