About AREA

The Anglia Ruskin Enterprise Academy (AREA) is for all ARU students and recent graduates, and is a central hub for start-ups, idea generation and innovative projects at ARU.

We're here to introduce you to the world of enterprise and entrepreneurship. If you want to direct your own success, AREA offers you the chance to improve essential skills and develop your knowledge.

We will support you in generating an idea, starting your own business, scaling up your existing venture, going freelance, or gaining in-demand enterprise skills such as confidence, leadership, pitching and presenting, and team-working.

We run numerous extra-curricular and co-curricular activities throughout the academic year, including:

• One-to-one and group sessions where you can gain information, knowledge, and advice, and hear from expert guest speakers.
• Futures Festival, where you can join events and activities to inspire, and direct, your future employability.
• The #ThinkBigARU Pitching Competitions where you can present your idea to expert panels, and receive mentoring, feedback, and potential investment for your start-up.
• Global Entrepreneurship Week celebrations.

How to join

If you're a current student, you can find out more about and sign up for opportunities via My ARU (login required).

If you graduated from ARU in the last three years and no longer have access to ARU's systems, you can find out more about and sign up for our programmes via our students and graduates page.

Alumni who graduated more than three years ago are invited to sign up for Inside AREA magazine or join The Entrepreneurs' Community.

If you're an established entrepreneur, whether or not you previously attended ARU, you can find out more and register your interest in helping our students to network, learn, and grow via our external entrepreneurs page.