FAQs
What is Business Incubation?
Business Incubation provides start up businesses with the ideal location to develop and grow their businesses in the early stages. Business incubators provide direct access to intensive business support, access to finance and excellent networking opportunities. The goal of incubators is to increase the chance that a start-up will succeed. If successful, business incubators can help to boost the local and regional economy and create a more innovative society.
Why would a new business want to be incubated?
Successful incubation is about creating a supportive environment with a range of shared facilities within which young businesses can flourish. Over 75% of businesses that start in incubation projects are still in business after 5 years compared to the average business survival rate of 33% over the same period.
What qualities do you need to run your own business?
Personal qualities such as energy, ambition, creativity and self-confidence are important. You also need a range of practical skills including financial and administrative skills, marketing and product or service development. Becoming a successful entrepreneur requires personal sacrifice and commitment. Whilst having a good idea or product is an essential element, it is the person that makes the business a success.
How do I get a place in the Unit?
All the businesses that apply to the Unit are put through a rigourous selection process which includes submission of a business plan and an interview with a panel of local entrepreneurs. To find out how to apply click here.
What are the opening hours at the Unit?
The Unit is open between the hours of 6am and 9pm (Monday to Friday) On weekends and bank holidays it is open 9am- 2pm.
Is there car parking space available at the Unit?
Unfortunately we are unable to offer car parking space at the Unit as spaces are allocated to Park Lane College staff. There are a number of options available if you want to visit us.
The free Leeds City bus runs from the bus station/ train station to right outside Park Lane House
Car Parks
The nearest car parking is listed below. It takes around 5 minutes to walk from each of these car parks to get to Park Lane House:
* Recommended (cheapest and closest): A Leeds City Council pay and display car park in the middle of what is indicated on multimap as being Wellington Street and the A58 (it is actually Kirkstall Rd, A65): you then walk up Marlborough Street and Park Lane House is to your right.
* A 'Yorparks' car park which is on Castle Street at the middle bottom of the map near to the International Pool, then take the pedestrian bridge over the inner ring road and Park Lane House is in front and to the right of you.
* Great George Street (near LGI) and Queen St/St Paul's St/Park Place/Lisbon St (near International Pool). There is pay and display on these streets, which is expensive and limited time.
My business has a good news story, how can I get PR?
Park Lane College has an excellent marketing department that can help you to put together a press release and will use current press contacts to share your story. To read about the current Unit success stories click here.
I want to attend some speciality training that is not covered in the Unit events programme, what can I do?
All members of the Unit automatically have free access to our Excellence in Enterprise Programme. So if you require training that is not listed in the programme, let us know and we will source this external training for you.
My business is expanding and I need more space. Is this possible?
At the Unit, we always try and be flexible. Discuss your requirements with the Incubator Manager and we will see what we can do.
I want to stay in the Unit longer than 12 months. What do I do?
You are able to stay a further 12 months after your first year. In order to do this you must submit a business plan with a covering letter detailing the reasons why you want to stay on. You need to do this at least one month before your lease is due to expire. This will be reviewed by a panel of fellows for the final decision.