Pitch2Win
Have a business idea you’ve been thinking about bringing to life? This is your opportunity to make it happen.
No idea is too small or too big. Every concept has potential, and pitching it is the first step towards turning it into something real. Whether you’re thinking about a side hustle or exploring a brand new concept, getting your idea out there could open unexpected doors.
From Thursday 28 May onwards, the DMU Made Team will be hosting weekly pitching sessions every Thursday, giving you a supportive platform to present your idea, gain feedback, and build confidence.
As an added incentive, you’ll also have the chance to win the Pitch2Win monthly prize of £100!
Take the first step, share your idea, and see where it could lead you!
Book your 15 minute slot today via MyGateway.
We look forward to hearing your pitch!
Future Freelancers 2026 is open for applications!
Interested in working as a freelancer, either alongside your studies or when you graduate? Maybe you want to make money alongside your studies instead of taking on a part-time job, or perhaps you want to know what's involved in being your own boss in future.
On this free programme, you'll learn skills, make new connections and friends, and receive the support you need.
For more information and to reserve your space, please click HERE: https://my-gateway.dmu.ac.uk/leap/event.html?id=2288&service=Careers+Service
DMU Made Creative Agency: Earn £200
DMU Made, the area of Careers Team which supports students and recent graduates with freelancing and entrepreneurship is launching a brand new ‘Creative Agency’ which will match talented students and recent graduates to projects submitted by internal departments.
Do you have skills in videography, photography or graphic design? Staff are being invited to submit work briefs for small-one off projects to be delivered by August 2026 by talented students and recent graduates (from the last two years).
If you are selected to deliver a project, you will be paid a one-off fee of £200, from a dedicated pot of funding managed by Careers Team.
Would you be interested in taking on a small project? You must be a UK home student or EU student with settlement status to participate.
Please submit your details below…
DMU Made Awards 2026: Nominations are open!
DMU Made, the part of Careers Team that helps students and graduates to develop entrepreneurial skills and launch new freelancing and startup ventures, has opened nominations for a special anniversary awards celebration taking place later this year.
The event, supported by The Sir Thomas White Loan Charity, will recognise twenty years of Careers Team leading extracurricular enterprise programmes, competitions and events for students and graduates at De Montfort University.
Details about the award itself will be released soon, but for now, students, graduates and staff can nominate deserving individuals across a host of categories. As this is a special milestone event, nominees can be anybody who has received support from the team – formerly known as Campus Enterprise Opportunities – over the last two decades.
Simon Baines, Enterprise Manager (Careers Team) said: “Our awards event has the reputation of being one of the biggest and most joyous events within the University, and we can’t wait to take it up a level when we celebrate two decades of nurturing and empowering so many students, graduates and also colleagues within the realm of entrepreneurship. With the world of work changing, we’ve never been busier, delivering activities inside and alongside the curriculum and it feels timely to take a moment to celebrate how we got here”.
To enable us to properly evaluate nominations, please provide us much detail as you can to support your submission.
There will also be awards for Staff Champion, 20 Years of Inspiration Award, Community & Collaboration Award and a Global Supporter Award with finalists determined by DMU Made.
How to register as a Sole Trader/Register a business
If you are a UK student or an EU student with settlement status, have your own side-hustle, money making venture, freelancing projects or a startup business, we’ll tell you how to register with HMRC to get your Unique Tax Reference No. We’ll also explain the benefits, and how it can unlock funding opportunities for you in DMU.
Simply book a one-to-one appointment with us via https://mygateway-dmu.ac.uk
Make Space
Do you have a creative side-project? Looking for a space to work, sew, design, create? All current students and recent graduates are welcome to work from the DMU Made Studio, which is open whenever the library is open (currently 24 hours). You can find this space on the first floor of the Kimberlin Library (Room 1.06). Find out more here.
Win £1000! Tell us about your business
If you’re already self-employed or have registered a business, please tell us about it here, and we’ll get in touch with details of how we can help you. Later this year, everyone who responds and has provided a UTR/registered business number obtained after July 2025, has the opportunity to win £1,000!
Pitch2Win Monthly
Your business idea could win you £100 and if it’s really good, you could be entered into our final later in the year for the chance to win £1000 or more! Weekly pitching rounds will are now taking place. All you have to do to enter is go to my-gateway.dmu.ac.uk and book a pitching slot!
DMUmade PopUps
We've teamed up with DSU to host a new, daily opUp Shop located in the SUsupplies Shop on the Ground Floor of the Campus Centre. Students who make their own products can apply for a free stall by emailing Andrew Reynolds. PopUp Shops are open on Mondays between 10am and 4pm.
Email dsupportunities@dsu.ac.uk to express an interest in having a stall.
ONGOING SUPPORT
A reminder that any student or graduate can receive one to one support, whether they have an existing business or would just like to know how to go about starting one.
One-to-ones are offered face to face and on line and can be booked via MyGateway or dmumade.com.
Further drop-in support and workspace will soon be available via the new Careers Hub in Hugh Aston.
