Teesside graduate from China sets up business in Middlesbrough

Zhenghao Wang (also known as James) is currently on a Tier 1 GE Visa endorsed by Teesside University. James came to Teesside from China to study BA (Hons) Applied Accounting & Business Finance and continued his studies, completing an MSc International Management.

Following his graduation in 2017, James obtained the Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) visa, endorsed by Teesside University, and opened a Japanese restaurant, Umi Japanese Bar and Restaurant, in Middlesbrough with fellow graduate and business partner Avery Law. The ethos of their restaurant is to provide excellent Japanese food at a low price, with a menu which includes sushi, bento boxes and Japanese burritos.

“I have been able to put the knowledge and skills I have learned on my course at Teesside University into practice while opening and running my own business. I feel that Teesside has supported me in achieving my goal by recognising my talent and endorsing my Graduate Entrepreneur Visa.”

The Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) route is for graduates who have an outstanding business idea that they wish to put into practice in the UK. Higher Education Institutions have a central role in identifying graduates who have developed genuine and credible business ideas or entrepreneurial skills, and in endorsing and supporting these graduates to develop their business idea.

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