Entrepreneur, James, 31, has used the knowledge gained from his Open University (OU) qualifications to launch an international business that creates affordable haptic and virtual reality (VR) simulators, which are revolutionising medical education.<\/p>\n
James chose to work full-time after completing his A Levels so that he could leave university without debt.<\/p>\n
\u201cI went straight to work after finishing school, and through hard work and dedication I managed to become a manager of my local Iceland store at just 18,\u201d James said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI saw the value of higher education but didn\u2019t want to take out a loan to go to university, like many of my friends had.<\/p>\n
\u201cLearning whilst earning meant that I could \u2018pay-as-you-go\u2019 with my studies, as I was only required to fund a module at a time.<\/p>\n
\u201cI chose to study an Open Degree<\/a> with the OU and tailored my modules to focus on law and business studies, as even at 18, I knew that one day I wanted to be in the position where I didn\u2019t have a boss staring down on me or I\u2019d be managing my own business.<\/p>\n \u201cThe OU was the only option in terms of university, as it allowed me to fit my studies around full-time employment.\u201d<\/p>\n James found that the skills he was learning through his OU studies were appealing to employers.<\/p>\n \u201cAt the age of 20, I was headhunted by shoe retailer, Russell & Bromley to launch a new store in Edinburgh.<\/p>\n \u201cWithout a doubt, having the OU on my CV helped me to secure this position. Studying whilst working demonstrated my willingness to progress, as well as the time management that was required to work a full day on the shop floor and then study in the evenings.<\/p>\n \u201cPersonally, it also really helped that I was able to apply what I was learning in my modules directly to my employed work. I could put in practise my new skills, which gave me real-life examples that I used in my assignments.<\/p>\n \u201cThe flexibility of the OU meant that I could even take my studies with me when I took a break from work and travelled the world.\u201d<\/p>\n Once James had completed his Open degree, he decided to pursue an MBA<\/a> with the OU.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter I\u2019d returned from my travels, I launched a management training company called JP Mentors<\/a>. In the same way that my degree had helped shape my career in retail, I wanted to study again to support my journey to becoming a business owner.<\/p>\n \u201cOnce again, the ability to study with the OU whilst working solidified my decision to sign up for the OU\u2019s MBA programme.<\/p>\n \u201cThrough the MBA I\u2019ve been introduced to some great contacts and resources that have helped me to develop my business ideas.<\/p>\n \u201cIn 2019, I partnered with a friend and started UNI SIM<\/a>. We design and manufacture haptic and VR simulators for the medical industry. Our equipment is being used to educate the next generation of dentists, nurses and doctors, and includes kits that teach everything from how to administer a lumber punch to oral surgery.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the first year of trading we took around \u00a3150,000 and this year it\u2019s been close to half a million. We just released a new simulator which has a pre-order with a university in Morocco, so we\u2019re feeling very positive about the future.\u201d<\/p>\n James and his colleague are representing the UK in Santander Universities\u2019 global competition, which all began with the OU.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen UNI SIM was just an idea, I submitted my business plan to the OU\u2019s Open Business Creators Fund<\/a> and was lucky enough to win \u00a31,500. This allowed me to buy equipment, like VR headsets that I could use when visiting potential clients.<\/p>\n \u201cThe OU then put UNI SIM forward for Santander Universities\u2019 Entrepreneurship Awards<\/a>, where we won \u00a315,000, which was amazing.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve now reached the finals where we\u2019ll pitch to the global CEO of Santander and hopefully secure further funding for UNI SIM. We\u2019re the only business from the UK and will be competing against businesses from across the world.\u201d<\/p>\n As James nears the end of his MBA, he reflects on his journey so far.<\/p>\n \u201cBeing able to continue my education whilst working has given me such an advantage. I\u2019ve been able to achieve everything that I\u2019ve wanted to. It’s changed my life completely.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can go really far with the OU, so if you\u2019re considering studying, there\u2019s no better time than now.\u201d<\/p>\n Find out more about the newly launched Open Business Creators Fund<\/a> and how to apply on the Opportunity Hub. With grants from \u00a31,000 to \u00a310,000 provided by the Higher Education Innovation Fund and Santander Universities, this funding competition will support students from the idea stage through to those running an early-stage start-up.<\/p>\nRecognised by employers<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Caught the OU bug<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Supported by the OU and Santander<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Made possible with the OU<\/strong><\/h2>\n