FuelRCA launches innovative partnership with PricewaterhouseCoopers
We all know artists and designers are exceptional thinkers and innovators, but often bringing their projects to fruition in a commercial framework once they leave the RCA can be more of a challenge; this is particularly the case when launching a new venture into a difficult economic climate.

Alongside its in-house training programme that helps current RCA students and recent graduates hone their professional skills, FuelRCA (the RCA professional development service) has been looking for new ways to assist budding entrepreneurs develop their business acumen in order to ensure a successful transition into the working world.

To meet this challenge, FuelRCA is very excited to have recently launched a new partnership with global financial services company PricewaterhouseCoopers. Eight exceptionally talented RCA graduates from 2011 who plan to launch their own creative business ventures or social enterprises have been selected to take part in a rigorous 18 month mentoring progamme.

The young businesses have been matched with outstanding talent from the PwC side too, where they will be working one-2-one with PwC Directors and Senior Managers who are part of the company's 'Emerging Leaders' programme - a PwC initiative that selects and develops future business leaders from the organisation's highest performers.

The final selection of RCA graduate ventures is made up of a stimulating mix of social enterprise and micro-finance projects, luxury products and brands, and two businesses offering innovative services to the public and private sectors.

A successful launch event at the RCA on 30 September 2011 gave the start-ups an opportunity to present their ventures to their peers and potential mentors, and the RCA entrepreneurs have since been matched with PwC mentors whose skills, experience and interests most closely align with their business needs.

The programme structure, designed by FuelRCA together with PwC, encourages mentees and mentors to meet for a thorough two-hour progress review and planning session every six weeks

At six-month intervals, the whole group will come together again for a series of high-level Master Classes on key topics of relevance to the start-up businesses, with the first by senior PwC partner, Philip Wright on the subject of how to create shareholder value.

Further information: FuelRCA and PricewaterhouseCoopers