UK to help locals set up firms

The British government has initiated a programme to help Indian entrepreneurs successfully establish businesses in the United Kingdom.

For this purpose, the British government's Global Entrepreneur Programme is hoping to identify five start-up Indian businesses in biotech, life sciences and information technology in the next one year.

"We expect to receive about 250 proposals related to businesses involving high degree of intellectual property rights in the first year of the programme's launch," Alpesh B Patel, dealmaker, global entrepreneur programme, said today.

India is the second country after the US where the British government has introduced this programme.

"We expect a lot of innovative work to happen in India. Our team will be meeting prospective clients and as well as established funds that have presence in India. As part of the current visit, the team will be travelling to Mumbai and Bangalore," Mark Donougher, head, Global Entrepreneur Programme, said.

The programme aims at providing a support package for business talent to relocate to the UK.

It is for people, with big ideas, keen to set up shop in the UK as well as for experienced entrepreneurs wishing to expand in the UK.

As part of the programme, Patel will be interacting with all the Indian Institute of Technologies, start-ups and companies with established business models.

Patel will also meet patents attorneys to glean out "interesting" companies.

In US, about 85 clients receive assistance from the programme. The assistance ranges from technical expertise to funding.