Launchpad Outreach
Launchpad Outreach is a fully funded business support programme initiated by Falmouth University. Modelled on the methodology that underpins our Launchpad Entrepreneurship MSc, the programme will help you explore the validity of market opportunities, build prototypes and develop new products, services or processes.


Welcome to fully funded business support
Launchpad Outreach aims to increase the growth capability of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) located in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. We can support SMEs in any sector, developing internal capabilities to improve productivity, growth and create jobs in a sustainable manner within local, national and international markets.
What we do
We provide fully funded support and masters-level Continuing Professional Development.
Utilising the resources of Falmouth University, Launchpad Outreach can offer SMEs in Cornwall 12 hours of funded consultancy, in line with exploring a new market opportunity and developing a new product or service. This is fully funded support - at no cost to you.
We are currently supporting businesses by providing market research reports to assist in the research of market opportunities. This research could take a number of forms, so we work with you to create a brief to best suit you and your business's needs. We can also explore consumer trends, collate some competitor analysis and could also help form a survey to be distributed via the appropriate channels.
For businesses looking to develop physical products, Launchpad Outreach can also provide access to Falmouth University's in-house product design consultant, offering support such as concept development, computer assisted design modelling and prototyping. Further to this, we can also access a budget to fund industry experts where appropriate.
We also work with the university's other teams and resources to offer businesses comprehensive support and access to our Student Placement Scheme.
To access our Launchpad Outreach business support please contact us:
MSc Entrepreneurship online modules
Employers, employees and entrepreneurs can undertake funded masters-level CPD opportunities, which can be used as a vehicle for business growth and for exploring new market opportunities. This accessible, online and flexible masters-level learning has been developed by The School of Entrepreneurship academics and offers the option for participants to undertake assessments and gain a MSc in Entrepreneurship.
Launchpad Outreach adapts the Launchpad methodology (identifying market demand, mobilising talent, pivoting to market, developing a prototype and launching a product). This online master's course will be launched in the autumn of 2020.
To find out more and express your interest please contact the Launchpad Outreach team:
T: +44 (0)1326 253 585
Modules
Aim
To consider a range of methods of analysing broad market data and specific customer data in order to categorise, compare and evaluate market opportunities.
Summary
You'll learn about a range of techniques and disciplines that will enable you to meet the module aims. Examples include: use and evaluation of general market information and statistics from a range of online data sources; collection and analysis of primary data; taking a holistic view of available data to establish an overview of a potential opportunity; identification of broad customer groups; profiling and segmenting customers by a range of methods as a basis for effective proposition design; and legal, social and ethical considerations in handling personal data.
The module will present a range of academic and practitioner sources for you to consider as you develop the early stages of your innovation. You'll be asked to critically evaluate them in your context and to apply them in order to develop strategies that you can be confident in presenting to senior stakeholders.
You'll be asked to produce a portfolio of work that will demonstrate a detailed understanding of core market and customer research methodologies. The choice of what to put into the portfolio is personal to each student but it will include a good degree of evaluation of theoretical and conceptual material, which will be applied to your own work-based project.
Aim
To evaluate the principles of Design Thinking in order to develop your innovation and problem solving practice.
Summary
The role of design as ‘a core discipline for every liberally educated man’ (Simon, 1968: p83) encompasses four core areas: communications; physical objects; services; and complex systems or environments (Buchanan, 1992). Some argue that it has the potential to uncover solutions to major contemporary challenges and that it has become a major force in commercial practice (Kolko, 2015).
In this module you'll critically evaluate these claims in a contemporary business context. You'll consider challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy and its Four Grand Challenges, and a range of societal challenges (e.g. social care or automation). Specifically, you will: engage with Design Thinking as a promising theoretical framework; critically evaluate the claims of its proponents and consider its limitations; and consider how practitioners apply the theory in a practical context, assessing how useful it can be in solving problems in our own contexts.
Through the completion of this module you'll gain a comprehensive appreciation of design thinking at both a conceptual and practical level.
Aim
To evaluate the digital business environment in order to develop robust value propositions that exploit its benefits both as core elements and channels to markets.Summary
The purpose is twofold: first, to allow you to develop products and solutions that exploit digital technologies and as such are at less risk of disruption by others who do; and second, to allow you to develop knowledge and skills that will mean they can exploit digital channels to acquire new customers, retain them and grow profitable relationships.
Indicative discussion topics are: digital technologies and their effect on business models, needs analysis in the digital world and marketing in a digital world.
You'll be asked to apply this in two ways. First, you'll be asked to carry out a critical evaluation of a case study based around another company’s experience of some form of digital project. Second, you'll be asked to apply the same principles to a practice-based challenge of your own choice. This will relate to your own context and will contribute to the planning of your product launch or internal digital transformation.
Through this approach you'll gain a comprehensive appreciation of digital leadership at both a conceptual and practical level.
Aim
Summary
Second, we'll ask you to produce a report that relates to a work-based project of your own choice where you can apply your financial knowledge to assess a specific project or innovation. You'll choose your own context and, with the support of the faculty team, analyse financial information, which will most likely be related to your specific context.
Aim
To apply the full range of learning material and learning experiences from your degree programme to your real work-based challenge.
Summary
This is the culmination of your degree experience and is intended to round up everything you have worked on over the period. Your work-based business plan could be for a new idea of your own, a new division for your existing firm, or a proposed resolution to a significant challenge you currently face as a leader.
It is expected that you will employ design thinking principles to consider the nature of the problem and come up with solutions. While your solution may not be digital in itself, you will consider the extent to which your value proposition is subject to the risk of digital disruption and how you will use digital channels to reach your market. You'll evaluate your market opportunities using a range of statistics and market reports as well as your own primary data (focus groups, interviews or surveys). You'll present a robust set of financial information that can be used by stakeholders to evaluate the efficacy of your plan.
The module will be assessed through the submission of a business plan which will be directly related to your context. The submission will include all normal aspects of a business plan to industry standards and will be evaluated based on evidence of the extent to which you have exploited the skills you have developed as part of the MSc.
Get in touch
A member of the Launchpad Outreach team would be happy to talk to you about your business needs and arrange a meeting.
T: +44 (0)1326 253 585