International Student Support

International Student Support Student Services Department

The University of Sheffield

Level 6, Student’s Union Western Bank Sheffield

S10 2TG United Kingdom

Tel: (0114) 222 1304 www.sheffield.ac.uk/ssid/international

Start-Up Visa Endorsement Letter

This letter confirms that you have been endorsed for a UK Start-up visa application.

Applicant’s details:

Name: Yiran JING

Date of birth: 20 January 1989

Endorsement details:

Endorsement reference number: EB20200983

Date of issue: 19 March 2021

Name of endorsing body: The University of Sheffield

Work address:

Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN

E-mail: casenquiries@sheffield.ac.uk

Further details of your endorsement are set out overleaf.

Nationality: China

Passport number: E10600150

Date of expiry: 19 June 2021

Name of authorised person: Charlie Eason

Telephone: 0114 222 4764

In applying for this endorsement, you consent for me to provide an electronic copy of this letter to the Home Office and confirm its contents at their request.

Please note that this endorsement letter does not confer any immigration status or right to work in the UK. You should use this letter within 3 months of the above date of issue to make an application to the Home Office. Details of how to apply can be found on the gov.uk website.

Signature of authorised person of the endorsing body:

Dr Tony Strike University Secretary Official Stamp of the Institution

Further details of endorsement:

Applicant’s name: Yiran JING

Names of any entrepreneurial team members who are also being endorsed: n/a

Name of applicant’s business: Straw Architects

Business sector: Architecture

Short description of the business and its main products or services:

Straw Architects is an architectural firm specialising in the use of straw for residential and commercial architecture. The business plans to offer architectural designs, full design packages for planning, artistic impressions, energy consulting, Building Information Modelling support and site based technological management solutions.

Short description of the applicant’s role in founding the business:

Yiran has studied Architectural Design and is the sole founder of Straw Architects. She will lead the design process from initial concept to implementation, taking full responsibility for the performance of the business and hiring additional staff as the company grows.

Type of endorsement: Start-up

Innovation – The applicant has a genuine, original business plan that meets new or existing market needs and/or creates a competitive advantage.

Short description of how the applicant meets this requirement:

Yiran has provided a genuine and original business plan that demonstrates how she intends to take a sustainable approach in the design and construction of properties. By combining 3 different service packages with Building Information Modelling and Virtual Reality technologies Yiran aims to create competitive advantage in the residential and commercial market to ensure buildings are constructed more environmentally friendly.

Viability – The applicant has, or is actively developing, the necessary skills, knowledge, experience and market awareness to successfully run the business described above.

Short description of how the applicant meets this requirement: Having studied Architectural Design and with 5 years experience of on-site construction design, Yiran is well placed to manage this technically focussed company. She has used her research to identify a gap in the market and position the business so that it is attractive to both existing and new homeowners as well as the commercial market. She plans to create an advisory team at the outset to further strengthen the business as it enters the architectural sector.

Scalability – There is evidence of structured planning and of ✔