The sky is not the limit for entrepreneurial Business Management student

School of Management second year student demonstrates how entrepreneurial Swansea University students are by successfully running and growing aviation company alongside studies.

Joe CharmanGeneva - Pilot Plus SimulationBlock Island - Pilot Plus Simulation‌BSc Business Management student Joe Charman is making the most out of his time at Swansea University. As well as achieving good grades, setting up and running the University’s Entrepreneurs Network society and being a Youth Ambassador for the Welsh Government, Joe is the founder and lead developer of successful aviation simulator company Pilot Plus.

Pilot Plus, which Joe established in 2015 before he started University, develops 3D replicas of airports for the X-Plane 11 Flight Simulator in order to help pilots in training. The company has a portfolio of eight products to market at present and are currently working on another immersing experience – EGLC London City. The team of four, which Joe heads up, push the boundaries of technology, with their dedication and hard work seeing them in a short time achieve a customer base of 3,000 people. In two years, they have achieved an impressive turnover to match.

‌After the company was initially up and running, Joe set his sights on a new challenge - get a qualification and enhance his skills further. Being a keen entrepreneur, what universities offered in terms of enterprise teaching, support and opportunities was an important factor for Joe when considering which university to study at. Joe said:

“Entrepreneurship is a big point for me. I went to a number of UK universities and asked them what they do for entrepreneurship. Swansea had the best answer out of all the universities.”

Joe is currently studying for a BSc in Business Management and is enjoying the entrepreneurial opportunities the University offers. He has already taken advantage of support from the School of Management’s in-house careers and placements teams, securing a work placement this summer. As well as this, Joe has set up the Entrepreneurs Network society with a fellow School of Management student. This means Joe can regularly network with like-minded students and connect with organisations that further nurture student entrepreneurship, such as the Big Ideas Wales Welsh Government initiative.

In addition to running and growing Pilot Plus, and hoping to get his pilot’s license at the end of next year, Joe is also in the process of setting up his next business venture - Driving Fox. Joe’s new company has developed innovative technology, and he is hoping to launch it in Swansea in the near future.