Southampton Solent University has awarded more than £80,000 in start-up funding since September 2023.

The money has been given to students and graduates with business ideas.

The university has supported 21 student start-ups with financial aid and expert business guidance.

This initiative is part of a broader effort to foster entrepreneurship and create local jobs.

The start-ups span various industries, including media, sports therapy, and interior design.

Emma Martin, a 2023 graduate, launched Ooh Ahh Property Staging with the university's support.

Her business supports people selling or renting homes by transforming spaces to showcase an area's full potential.

Emma graduated a BA Hons Interior Design Decoration degree in 2023.

She said: "Receiving support from the Solent Start-Ups team has been a game-changer for my business.

"The grant not only helped me invest in essential inventory but also gave me the confidence to take my business to the next level."

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Another success story is Solace Sauna, a start-up pioneered by BSc Hons Psychology with Counselling and Mental Health graduate Bailey Foreman.

The sauna in Lepe Country Park is described as a unique sauna experience which focuses on wellbeing.

After just two weeks since opening, Bailey is already looking to expand by adding additional facilities and extending opening times.

For the 2024/25 academic year, Solent has allocated £40,000 to support budding entrepreneurs through the Start-Ups Fund.

Professor Cathy Barnes, Pro Vice-Chancellor Research, Academic Strategy and Planning, said: "The role of a university extends beyond its campus, and resources such as the Solent Start-Ups Fund demonstrate the ways in which higher education is playing an essential role in regional economies.

"By giving our students and graduates the tools to succeed after their education, we are contributing to a ripple effect that can lead to job creation and boost a city or region's outputs.

"What matters now, is continued support in the sector to allow universities to keep investing in their graduates, which in turn becomes an investment in the region."

Start-ups at Solent are supported by Solent Creatives, an on-campus enterprise that works with students and graduates, giving them the tools they need to thrive either as business owners or freelancers.