DMU alumna wins grant to establish her sustainable backpack business

The new year could not have possibly started off in a better way for Charlie Evans. The Graphic Design and Illustration graduate from De Montfort University (DMU) in Leicester was named one of the winners of The Crucible Project: a funding programme which provides students with financial as well as practical aid to turn their business idea into a real enterprise. Selected alumni are set to receive an 8.000 pound (10.880 dollar) grant as well as access to a shared office space on campus and guidance through a mentoring scheme, workshops and training sessions.

Evans, who graduated from DMU in 2014, is the founder of Grey House England: a company which offers sustainable cardboard backpacks. As one of the ten winners from DMU´s funding programme, Evans now has the opportunity to begin searching for manufacturers who are able to produce the backpacks and prepare for launching her brand this year.

”It is a massive opportunity, it does not feel real right now,” said Evans. “It has taken up a lot of time to find the right manufacturers, because the process is so specific, and I have also been designing in a new lining. Getting this investment has allowed me to be patient, and have the time to think through the process and ensure everything is absolutely right before I launch.” Although Evans admits she has always had an entrepreneurial spirit, she never thought she would actually set up her own business. Now that she has, she has also become involved with the local Peter Jones Enterprise Academy to share her story with aspiring entrepreneurs.

DMU´s Innovation Centre manager Simon Baines said he believed the funding programme has helped Evans to become the “succesful business woman” she is today. “Charlie has worked so hard at developing her product, and deserves the investment to help her take it to the next stage which means taking it to market in 2016. She is an inspiration to our current Crucible participants and we hope she will go on to inspire many more of our creative graduates who we hope will consider applying for the 2016-2017 programme,” said Baines.

Image credit: De Montfort University