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For innovators

The ideas, innovations and enterprises of Nottingham have helped shape the world since the Industrial Revolution. From medical breakthroughs such as MRI and Ibuprofen developed at the University of Nottingham, to globally successful businesses like Boots, Paul Smith and Experian, the spirit of discovery has inspired generations of Nottingham pioneers.

For innovators

See how Anika launched her business with help from the University of Nottingham

Anika Vassell set up Teen-Behaviour.Com Ltd with help from the University of Nottingham Ingenuity Lab.

Teen-Behaviour.Com Ltd helps businesses improve the mental health, productivity and morale of working parents by supporting them to address the challenges of raising their adolescent-aged children.  

It is the brainchild of Anika Vassell, a University of Nottingham trained secondary school teacher from Edwalton.

Anika received support from the University of Nottingham's Ingenuity Lab to turn the idea into a reality. Benefiting from business planning support, mentoring and networking, Anika is still an active member of the Ingenuity Lab and her business has now taken on its first member of staff.

Anika Vassell pointing to a screen

Anika has used the University as a test bed, piloting workshops for University staff who have children aged 9-19yrs. She is now studying for an occupational health psychology PhD, researching how teen behaviour impacts on parents and the consequences for workplace absenteeism, productivity and retention rates.

Anika won two awards from the University's Ingenuity 19 business competition: The Smallwood Trust Innovation Prize which has allowed her to develop programmes of support for working parents who are financially vulnerable and the Research-Related Enterprise Award, which has enabled her to invest and grow the business further. 

“It was quite a risk to set up my own business, but I was confident that I could address a need that had so far been overlooked in the workplace. The University has supported me to pursue my goal and make my business a success. It's not just about the practical support like business planning and mentoring. I am able to combine running my business with diving into the latest doctoral research on the impact that challenging adolescent behaviour has on parents in the workplace; where else can you do that?”

Anika Vassell, Founder, Teen-Behaviour.Com Ltd

Read more stories like Anika’s below.

Explore the impact of the universities in more detail

Our universities have supported the establishment of over 700 new businesses over the last 5 years through NTU’s The Hive and University of Nottingham’s Ingenuity Lab

Working together we created BioCity in 2002, to help invigorate the life sciences business environment in Nottingham. It now has 2,483 members across five locations in the UK

Through the joint Enabling Innovation project, we supported 218 Nottinghamshire businesses with 2,817 hours of technical support in 2017/18

We regularly work with businesses to attract innovation funding. Since 2004, we’ve been the supporting partner in 287 successful projects, worth a total of £53 million