by Virgin StartUp

Bit on the side: how to launch a business while working

If you can come up with a business idea, quit your job the next day and launch the business the day after then this event isn’t for you. For the rest (and this should be virtually everyone) who need to keep the day job to pay for the business idea as well as important things like food and water then this event will help you work out how and why you should launch a business while working full time.

We will be bringing together entrepreneurs who launched businesses while working to reveal their strategies for doing so and also people who are still running a business while working full-time to give you their tips for how they manage it. Expect to uncover online resources that can help you, little hacks for getting things done quickly and how to make sure your boss is on side.

This event is hosted with WeWork, WeWork transform buildings into collaborative workspaces. Get the space, community and services you need to make a life, not just a living.

Event running order: 

18:30-19:00  Networking

19:00-19:15  Helen Tupper, Co-Founder of Amazing If

Helen is Head of Marketing for Virgin Red, Co-Founder of Amazing If, MBA student at Henley Business School and mum to Henry. She believes that it’s possible to take control of your career and create your future, and that there is no time like the present to do it! She is inspired by the motto ‘challenge your limits, don’t limit your challenges’ and aims to create new sources of value for the businesses she works in.

19:15-19:30  Ian O Donohue, Founder Harry Brompton’s Iced Tea

Harry Brompton’s is the world’s first premium alcoholic Ice Tea. Founder Ian, started the business while working full-time in the city. He told his colleagues he would quit his job once Harry Brompton’s was stocked in Waitrose and stuck to his word! Fast forward to today and Harry Brompton’s has now sold over 1.1m bottles world wide.

19:30-19:45  Kimberley Wilson, The Glamorous Jam Co

Kimberley Wilson is a Chartered Psychologist and jam maker. Having dabbled with the idea of starting a food business for a while, after becoming a finalist on the BBC’s Great British Bake Off she decided to take the plunge and launch The Glamorous Jam Co, producing a premium range of handmade, small batch jams in her trademark adventurous flavours for the discerning foodie.

19:45-20:30         Q&A

20:30-21:00         Networking