Loughborough Enterprise Network (LEN) was joined by Vice-Chancellor Professor Nick Jennings CB FREng FRS and Pro-Vice Chancellor for Education and Student Experience, Professor Rachel Thomson. The event offered a chance to connect and celebrate achievements with other founders and supporters, featuring a drinks reception and a light buffet.
The evening also allowed students to learn from entrepreneurs further along their journey and gave businesses on campus the opportunity to give students experience working in start-ups through the Talent Match programme run by the Careers Network and supported by Santander.
Winners from the Enterprise Awards include:
Skill-Up Award – Edward Purchase, currently studying International Business
Start-Up Award – Kate Hood (Bamsyboo), currently studying Accounting and Financial Management
Year In Enterprise Award – Rushad Kolah (Rushad K Designs), currently studying Graphic Design
Scale-Up Award – Joe Fuggle (former Loughborough College student graduated with a BSc degree in Applied Sport Science 2022), The Athlete Place
Innovator Of the Year – Katie Michaels (Industrial and Product Design in 2020), Moti Me
Staff Enterprise Award – Dr Serhat Yilmaz (Academic Practice 2017)
Champion Of the Year – Hannah Saunders (Geography 2007)
LEN Impact Award – James Roberts (Product Design and Technology 2014), Mom Incubators
LEN brings together a powerful support network across the University and beyond to help students, graduates, staff and friends of the university to develop enterprise and entrepreneurial skills and start, scale and grow new businesses. Support extends to recent graduates and alumni working on new businesses.
Professor Nick Jennings, Vice-Chancellor of Loughborough University, said:
Loughborough’s commitment to entrepreneurship and innovation is at the very heart of our mission to drive positive change and create better futures. Through LEN, we’re helping to develop a new generation of businesses that are improving lives, enhancing sustainability and creating jobs.
The evening was made possible through the support of local partners, The Sir Thomas White Loan Charity (STWLC), which provides personal loans for new businesses, businesses in need of investment, and for postgraduate education.
STWLC Chair, Lucy Womack said “Our Charity was pleased to be supporting these Awards, which celebrate and shine a light on stories of personal development and business success.”
Congratulations to everyone on their success. These inspiring stories highlight the range of thriving businesses which have originated from and have been supported by the University. Winners’ stories have been shared since the Awards via LinkedIn.
If you are seeking help with your new business idea, you can visit LEN’s website.