Entrepreneurship in Psychology: Why Your Skills Matter
Entrepreneurship in Psychology: Why Your Skills Matter
A question I’m sure you’ve heard already from family and friends is ‘What’s next?’.
Whether you’re curious about private psychology practice, launching a wellbeing app, or simply want to explore new career paths, enterprise and entrepreneurship could be the key to making that start.
My name is Ellie, and I work as an Enterprise Projects Coordinator in Manchester Met’s Careers Service. I graduated from the Psychology with Counselling and Psychotherapy course at Manchester Met back in 2022. I never planned to work in Higher Education, in fact I didn’t even know it was a career option for me! During my first year as a student at Manchester Met, I completed a placement at Z-Arts which sparked my passion for supporting people of all ages. That experience stayed with me and shaped the types of graduate jobs I looked for, helping me find my first role within Manchester Met’s Careers Service. Since then, I’ve progressed through a few different roles at the University and now get to create exciting events and programmes for students interested in self-employment. Enterprise and Entrepreneurship interests me because the opportunities to be creative and try new things are endless, and getting the chance to support such exciting ideas and goals each day is really rewarding.
As a psychology graduate, I know it can feel overwhelming deciding what career path to take, what experience to get as a student, and the uncertainty that comes with making these decisions. That’s why I’m passionate about showing students that enterprise is a great place to start. It’s not just setting up a business – it’s about developing skills that help you to get to that next step, whether that’s working for yourself or working for someone else.
Enterprise is all about taking risks, building resilience, and thinking outside of the box to respond to real world problems. These are all vital skills when venturing into the working world – especially in Psychology. Getting involved with Enterprise activities at university gives you the chance to learn how to confidently speak to and bring new ideas to a workplace, a group project, or your own business. We help you to understand what it really means to work for yourself, and provide you time and space to explore how your skills might help you do that.
Psychology Success Stories in Enterprise
One of the most inspiring parts of our work is seeing students turn ideas into something meaningful. 2025’s Ideas Festival showcased exactly that, with students from across the University bringing creativity, lived experience and problem-solving together.
Two standout finalists were Mia and James, both final year psychology students who developed ideas rooted in improving wellbeing through innovative approaches.
Mia Duggal – Therapy on Wax (BSc Psychology, Class of 2026)
Mia’s idea, Therapy on Wax, reimagines how people engage with mental health support through music. Inspired by her own experiences of therapy and her connection to music, Mia identified a gap in the market for something that feels less clinical and more accessible. She was particularly interested in reaching men who may not typically engage with traditional mental health services but already use music as a way to process emotion.
By combining psychological principles with the immersive, tactile experience of vinyl, Mia’s idea highlights how everyday activities can be transformed into meaningful wellbeing tools. Her creativity and clear sense of purpose saw her win the Audience Vote at the Ideas Festival, reflecting the strong connection her idea made with others.
James Allcock – Humbug (BSc Psychology with Counselling and Psychotherapy, Class of 2026)
James developed Humbug, an app that turns voice input into musical compositions, offering a new form of accessible music therapy. His idea was shaped by the long waiting times many individuals face when trying to access mental health support, particularly within services such as the NHS.
Humbug provides users with a way to express themselves creatively and process emotions while they wait for formal support, using music as a therapeutic outlet. By lowering the barrier to music creation, the app creates an inclusive, immediate tool for self-expression and emotional regulation.
James’ work demonstrates how combining psychology with technology can lead to innovative solutions to real-world problems.
Both Mia and James exemplify what the Ideas Festival is all about. They took a simple idea, developed it through structured support, and built the confidence to share it with others. Their success shows that entrepreneurship isn’t just about starting a business; it’s about using your skills, experiences and passions to create positive change.
How can I get involved?
We run enterprise programmes, 1-1 drop-ins, networking and funding opportunities all year round. There’s something to suit everyone whether you want to sit down and chat about how you launch a private counselling practice, or hands-on experience of creating an elevator pitch.
Take a look at our website where you can see exactly what’s on offer when at mmu.ac.uk/enterprise. Here’s a snapshot of the year ahead:
The best way to keep up to date with opportunities is to join our LinkedIn group, where we share exciting development opportunities in and out of the University. You’ll be the first to hear when applications open for programmes like our Flash Fund, Ideas Festival, and Spring Market.
Even if you’re brand new to entrepreneurship or aren’t sure if self-employment is for you, if you have an interest or an idea we’d absolutely love to hear from you.
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