Supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs with Warwick Enterprise

At Harper James, we believe that having access to practical, high-quality legal support can make a real difference in the early stages of starting a business, especially when founders are faced with making big decisions quickly, often without a safety net. 

That’s why we’re proud to be partnering with Warwick Enterprise, the University of Warwick’s entrepreneurship support team, to help founders develop strong foundations as they explore ideas, build skills and launch new ventures. 

Through this ongoing partnership, we’re contributing straightforward, confidence-building guidance to support early-stage entrepreneurs on their journey to turn promising concepts into viable businesses by helping them spot risks early, make informed choices, and stay focused on what they’re building. 

About Warwick Enterprise

Warwick Enterprise supports entrepreneurs across the University of Warwick community, helping innovators develop ideas and build ventures through a range of programmes, coaching and events. Its Start-up Programme is a free, 12-month journey for University of Warwick students and graduates, combining workshops, coaching and mentoring to help founders build their businesses. 

The IP essentials, explained – with trade mark expert, Ben Evans

One part of our contribution to the programme focuses on intellectual property, an area that’s easy to overlook when you’re busy launching, selling and hiring, but crucial for protecting what makes your business valuable. 

Our Head of Trade Marks, Ben Evans, shares practical IP guidance with founders through Warwick Enterprise’s Introduction to IP sessions, helping them get clarity on what they’ve created, what it’s worth, and how to protect it. His sessions typically cover: 

• The differences between trade marks, copyright, patents and trade secrets 

• How to spot what parts of your start-up can (and should) be protected by IP 

Ben also shares guidance on brand protection, along with the key contract terms that help business owners take control of their IP, particularly when working with contractors, collaborators or early hires. Delegates on the Start-up Programme can access these sessions as part of the wider support available. 

Ben says:

Working with entrepreneurs at the very start of their business journey is always exciting. It’s genuinely rewarding to teach the building blocks of protecting IP early on, because a few thoughtful steps at the beginning can prevent some very avoidable issues later.

Find out more

If you’re early in your start-up journey and want to build with confidence, Warwick Enterprise’s Start-up Programme is a great place to begin. To see what’s coming up and explore the support available, visit the Warwick Enterprise website.