Henley Summer Start-Up Boot Camp

The Henley Enterprise Lab, in collaboration with the Rebel Business School, successfully hosted an invigorating Summer Start-Up Boot Camp from June 16 to June 20, 2025.

This transformative event, sponsored by the British Business Bank, Henley Business Angels, and the University of Reading, welcomed over 50 students and local entrepreneurs eager to learn how to start a business with a focus on sales.

The Boot Camp challenged traditional business start-up methods by emphasising the importance of making sales first and validating the value proposition. Participants were taught how to launch businesses with little or no money, focusing on essentials of having a business idea, deep customer insight, passion, energy, confidence and commitment, and a digital device.

Day 1: Igniting the Entrepreneurial Flame

Jurek Sikorski, Director of the Henley Enterprise Lab, kicked off the Boot Camp by welcoming participants, introducing the course presenter Angela (Angie) Beeston, Rebel Lead Facilitator and coach and thanking the Boot Camp sponsors.

Susan Elliott, Senior Manager (South East) at the British Business Bank, spoke about the Bank’s support for start-ups, including the government-backed Start Up Loans Scheme and invited participants to research the support and guidance offered to start-ups.

Angie led the first session on ‘How to Build a Business with No Money,’ sharing five key strategies: getting things for free, borrowing, bartering, selling existing items, and selling and collecting money before creating.

Professor Robert Van de Noort, CBE DL, Vice Chancellor of the University of Reading, inspired participants with his words of encouragement, setting an ambitious tone for the week.

"Participating in the Boot camp allowed me to verbalise and solidify the idea that I had been thinking about for a long time but did not know how to turn into a business. Through participating in this course, I understood that I do not need external investment to start my business, and I realised how important it is to know who my customer is and where I can find them. The Start-up Boot camp helped me build confidence and get started and gave me the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals interested in entrepreneurship. I am very grateful to Jurek and to the Rebel Business School for this opportunity and for supporting me in developing my entrepreneurial mindset and skills."

And her message to participants:

"Building a business takes time and patience. Many of us may get it right on the first attempt and as we gain experience, our business and its direction may pivot. But the skills we learn on this journey will shape our path over time. Believing in ourselves, reaching out for help and support to experienced mentors and those who have grown their business successfully, and being resilient and persistent are the only way we can succeed as future entrepreneurs."

Day 2: Mastering Sales and Marketing

The second day focused on the critical role of sales. Angie highlighted various marketing methods such as cold calling, tradeshows, social media, networking, PR, and websites.

Participants engaged in practical exercises, including a networking session to determine customer satisfaction. Angie emphasised that "selling is not telling; it is asking," and highlighted the importance of building rapport as key to winning and retaining customers.

Shabnam (Shab) Khan, a participant with an idea of a food van, shared her concept and invited participants to order food. She collected 14 orders and delivered them on the fourth day, receiving rave reviews. This experience boosted her confidence, transforming her into a poised and confident business founder.

Day 3: Building a Website for Free

'Website Wednesday' focused on building a website for free using Canva. Angie demonstrated how to create an effective website, stressing that content is king and a ‘call to action’ is crucial. Participants were challenged to build and publish their own websites, with Angie sharing top tips, including the importance of visuals and short videos.

Day 4: Engaging Customers Through Social Media

On the fourth day, Angie led sessions on leveraging social media to find and engage customers. Participants showcased their newly created websites, which were met with admiration. Angie explained how platforms like Instagram and TikTok could be used for sales and discussed strategies to increase visibility on social media.

Day 5: Expert Advice and Closing Insights

The final day featured a panel of experts providing advice on commercial, employment, finance, IP, legal, and tax matters. Moderated by Jurek Sikorski, the panel included Ash Arif, Partner at Clarkslegal LLP, David Brookes, Regional Managing Partner at BDO, David Askew, Relationship Director Technology Team at NatWest Group, and Susan Elliott from the British Business Bank. They each shared three crucial considerations for entrepreneurs and emphasised the importance of taking professional advice throughout the founder’s journey.

Angie concluded the Boot Camp by discussing the ‘Legal Essentials – A Rebel’s Guide’ and '12 Rebel Principles,' which included moving outside comfort zones, building confidence, focusing on customer retention, and maintaining an urgent drive to succeed.

Participants' Enthusiastic Response

The Boot Camp closed on a high note, with participants feeling confident, energised, and excited to continue developing their business ideas. The innovative and practical approach of the Boot Camp was widely praised, leaving a lasting impact on all participants.

Participants celebrated their graduation from the Summer Start-Up Boot Camp, sharing their positive experiences and newfound confidence.

This is what participants had to say about the Boot Camp:

Balaji Ganesh Chennai spoke about the breaking down barriers:
“Until now, I have been very ambitious about business. However, I felt something holding me back. This could be money, lack of confidence but through the first day I realised money is not the issue. I realised that I could make it happen without all the fluff.”

Tania Starr grew her confidence and network:

“Feeling more confident and supported by a load of experts and resources I feel empowered to get things moving. I’ve already set up a meeting with a potential supplier and looking at woman in business networking events.

Wang Qi Loh reflected on their business idea:

“The thought-provoking process that allows me to brainstorm, design and realise my business idea. The support and information provided along the workshop has been immensely helpful, allowing me to understand the necessary processes to manage a start-up more efficiently.”

Angie signed off with a heartfelt message:

“Happy weekend Rebels! Thank you for being so enthusiastic, passionate, inspirational, and kind to each other. You absolutely rock!”

A special thank you goes out to our sponsors for their support and contribution to the Boot Camp.

A full report on the Summer Start-up Boot Camp will be published soon. Keep an eye out for the report, a link to which will be provided here.