A new wave of young entrepreneurs behind innovative start-up businesses, including one which makes green energy from waste coffee, have arrived in the UK.Under the Government’s Sirius scheme, graduates from across the world are given a 12-month support package, including financial aid of up to £48,000, to set up in Britain.The first 19 young entrepreneurs to be accepted onto the programme come from 13 countries including India, China and Germany, as well as African countries like Kenya and Nigeria.They include Tim Brown, an ex-footballer who played for New Zealand at the 2010 World Cup, who founded ToBe, a company making running shoes which do not need socks.“Our invention will totally revolutionise the way athletes train,” he said. “Being based in the UK will enable us to start up and develop alongside like-minded entrepreneurs and gain access to world class strategic advice and support.” Other entrepreneurs include Kenyan Edwin Openda and Italian trio Carlo de Micheli, Stefano Caso and Andrea Gurnari, whose Savesquared portable chargers allow smartphone users to charge their handset’s battery for £1.British pair Benjamin Harriman and Arthur Kay launched Bio-Bean to convert waste coffee grounds into biofuel, while Vietnam’s Duy Nguyen, India’s Amit Pate and David McGee, from the UK, founded Veri-tag.com, which helps consumers prove any branded products they buy are genuine.Lord Livingston, the trade and investment minister, said: “The UK is one of the best places in the world to become a successful entrepreneur and we’re committed to helping talented entrepreneurs from around the globe to build their businesses here.“Looking at the high calibre of entries we’ve received for this programme, it’s clear that Britain is fast becoming the country of choice for talented graduates to start and grow their businesses, which will ultimately help our economy to grow, boost productivity and create jobs, and succeed in the global race.”The Sirius programme, which offers young entrepreneurs business mentors and help gaining clients, is accepting entries until January 15, 2014.
