Have a question about using the Virgin Media Pioneers website? See if it’s already been asked in our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
About Virgin Media Pioneers
What is Virgin Media Pioneers?
Virgin Media Pioneers is a great way to get the inside scoop on what it takes to start a new business.
It’s more than a website. In fact there are 3 parts to the Virgin Media Pioneers programme:
1. Virgin Media Pioneers Online – This is the website you’re on now. An online community to help young entrepreneurs like you learn new skills, share ideas and connect with other like-minded folk.
2. Virgin Media Pioneers: Spark Your Ideas – Make the most out of enterprising opportunities with our helpful series of skills workshops and networking events.
3. Virgin Media Pioneers: The Awards – An annual award ceremony where we get to celebrate the achievements of the Virgin Media Pioneers community and that includes you!
Who could be a Pioneer?
Anyone can be a Pioneer. They’re people who have a bright idea and are hoping to turn it into a brilliant business. Pioneers are people who make ideas happen.
I’m new! What do I do first?
Grab your Pioneers Starter Kit and you’ll be at home in no time. Plus you can join our Newbies Group to introduce yourself to the community.
About Pioneer Rewards
How do I become Pioneer of the Week?
Let us know what you’ve been up to, achieved, discovered, need or learned? Whatever’s happening with you and your business let us know by video blog, comment or status update and you could be our Pioneer of the Week.
What does it mean to be Pioneer of the Week?
If you’re picked as Pioneer of the Week you gain exclusive access to the Pioneer of the Week Group and will be featured on the Virgin Media Pioneers homepage.
Plus you’re a contender for the Pioneer of the Month!
How do I become Pioneer of the Month?
At the end of the month the community and Pioneer supporters get to vote on which one of those Pioneers should become the ultimate Pioneer of the Month.
That winner will be invited to our exclusive Pioneers of the Month Group and first on the list for Pioneer opportunities.
About Profiles
How do I edit my profile?
Your profile is where you can tell the world about who you are and all the amazing things you do. You can edit your profile in three easy steps:
1. Log in to www.virginmediapioneers.com.
2. Click on ‘My profile’ located on the top right menu.
3. Choose the ‘Edit profile’ option and voila! You can make all the changes you need.
What’s the difference between my profile and my homepage?
Your profile is the first place other site users will go to, to find out more about you. Here they can read your summary info, catch up on your latest site activity and watch your videos.
Your homepage is your launch pad for navigating around the site. Here you can see the latest content from Pioneers TV, our most recent tweets, blog posts, popular video blogs and more.
Why do I need to list my businesses?
When a visitor comes to your profile they may want to understand more about you and what you do. Listing your businesses will help them to do that.
It also helps to ensure you build a network of people centred around your specific area of work. That way you’re more likely to get the right support for you and your businesses.
About Ideas & Partnership Opportunities with Virgin Media Pioneers, Virgin or Richard Branson
I’ve got an amazing idea? How can I pitch it to Virgin or Sir Richard Branson?
For a helpful guide to submitting your business idea or proposals to Virgin check out Got A Big Idea?
About Videos, Channels and Tags
Making a video blog sounds tricky, is it?
Not at all. Your video blogs only need to be about 90 seconds max and if all you have is the camera on your mobile phone, that can work too.
Visit our Hints and Tips page for our guide to making good video blogs.
How do I upload a video blog?
Uploading a video blog is really easy. Once you’ve saved your video file onto your computer use our five simple steps to make it live.
1. Log on to www.virginmediapioneers.com.
2. Click on the ‘Upload a video’ button on your homepage.
3. Click browse to find the video blog on your computer’s hard drive.
4. Once selected, click ‘upload’. A new screen will open with a processing bar showing how much of the video blog has been uploaded.
5. When it’s uploaded, you’ll be able to see a preview of the video blog. Here you can add a title, description, tags and add the video blog to channels.
NB: Your uploads must not exceed more than 125MB per day or 250MB for the week.
What is a channel?
We add all the video blogs you make to a channel. This makes it easier for viewers to find video blogs on certain subjects. Currently there are 5 channels.
These are:
You’ll have the opportunity to add your video blog to a channel when you upload it.
What are tags?
Tags are keywords you can give to your video blogs to help organise them. For example a video blog where you talk about an amazing meeting you had with a potential investor could be tagged: starting-up, milestone, investment and finance meetings.
Why should I tag my video blogs?
If you build up a real catalogue of video blogs (which we hope you do) tags will help you and other viewers to quickly find video blogs featuring one of your keywords.
What does ‘embedding’ mean?
Embedding allows people to share a video blog from one website so that it can be played on another.
How do I embed a video blog into another site?
In the top left corner of every video blog player is a little ‘embed it’ button. Click on this and you’ll see a drop down menu giving you an embed code. You’ll need to copy and paste this code into the area of your website/blog which accepts HTML.
How can I tell the world I’m a pioneer? Can I embed my video blogs on my own website/blog?
You sure can! Don’t forget, you’ll need to link back to the Virgin Media Pioneers site if you do.
Are people watching my videos yet?
There are two places to see how many people have been viewing and commenting on your video blogs. The first is your profile and the second is your homepage.
About Community and Networks
Help! Someone’s being abusive, spamming and/or harassing me!
We don’t like that behaviour either so let us know straight away. Click on the ‘Report user’ button underneath the person’s profile picture to alert us. You can also send an email to the community manager at erica@virginmediapioneers.com.
For more details on how to keep Virgin Media Pioneers a friendly place to be, read our Community Guidelines.
How do I remove someone from my network?
There are 3 places where you can remove someone from your network.
1. Your network page
2. People search results page
3. On that person’s profile
On each of theses pages you’ll find a ‘remove contact’ button. Click it and they’ll no longer be a part of your network.
How do I add a contact?
Under each person’s profile picture you’ll find an ‘add contact’ button. Click it and make a new friend.
Why should I add people as contacts?
You’ll meet many interesting people on Virgin Media Pioneers. Some might be fun to chat to, some might give great advice and others might do both.
Finding support from the right people can do wonders for your project. So a little networking on Virgin Media Pioneers may be just the boost you need.
About Technical Help
Did I break something? It’s just not working? Help!
Oops! Glitches and bugs may happen from time to time with any website. Just head over to our Report A Bug page, submit the details and we’ll work to have it fixed as soon as possible.
I can’t log in, what do I do?
No need to worry. If you’ve forgotten your password hit the Forgot My Password link to have a new one sent to you. If it’s a bit more difficult then that submit the details on our Report A Bug page and we’ll see what we can do for you.
About Everything Else
I have a question that was not answered in this FAQ. Can you help me?
Sure, visit the page and send us your question using the online form or send an email to erica@virginmediapioneers.com.
Name five successful entrepreneurs under 30! Now!
Mark Zuckerburg (23) – Facebook
Sumi Krishan (26) – K4 Solutions
Jessica Huie (28) – Colorblind Cards
Chad Hurley (30) – YouTube
Nathaniel Peat (30) – Safety Box
We could add a few more but then we’d be showing off!
Secured by