On Tuesday, Loughborough University and Students’ Union celebrated their inaugural Student Enterprise Awards, recognising the enterprising achievements of students across a range of activities.

More than 120 guests gathered in Loughborough Students’ Union for a showcase of student business ideas and to learn who had been named this year’s enterprise champions.  

The successes of the past 12 months – spanning competition winners, club committees, inspiring individuals and aspiring entrepreneurs – were distinguished with a range of awards.

The Most Enterprising Student Team or Group Award – which recognises a team who have worked together in the spirit of enterprise – was won by Loughborough Students’ Sailing and Windsurfing Club who are well on the way to raising £40,000 for new boats and equipment.

Rob Clifton who has developed two businesses – Clothes Comparison and travel company, Amaquella – was named Entrepreneurial Student of the Year. Meanwhile, Alan Radbourne’s One Pound Challenge – which generated £38,000 in a year – earned him the title of Entrepreneurial Postgraduate Student of Year.

Helen Ots – former Enterprise Intern, active Enactus member and creator of 24-hour hackathon, Social Storm – was deservedly named Most Inspiring Enterprise Student of the Year.

The Most Enterprising Hall Committee award went to Royce whose phenomenal £10 Challenge endeavour raised more than £225 for charity in just one week.

Gayathri Seneviratne – Loughborough Students’ Union VP College – received the Inspiring Staff Member Award in recognition of the strong links her enterprise activities have forged between students in the University and College.

A range of prizes were also presented to students who – as part of the annual Think BIG business competition – are developing innovative ventures and demonstrated excellent business skills and acumen.

Seven individuals and teams received business category awards, including a cash prize to invest in their fledgling company.

Dilip Shewakramani’s range of GPS jewellery, SecureME, designed to help parents keep track of their children won the E-Commerce and Retail Award.

The Creative Award was presented to Sophie-Louise Hyde for her corporate and creative writing services company, In2Collision.

Benjamin Oddie and Peter Bailey’s social media extraction software that facilitates event management and dissemination, EventCatch, was the winner of the Technology category.

The Consultancy or Service Award was won by Amaquella – Todd Martin and Rob Clifton’s student travel company whose work fundraises for the Epilepsy Society.

Another travel company Goalfie – which specialises in trips to St Andrew’s for the growing number of golf fans in China – won the Sport award and was presented to company founders, Guangyu Gao, Diandian Chen and Ruohong Fan.

Steph Wilkinson’s company, Nommable which specialises in dairy-gluten-free desserts, won the Manufacturing Award.

Sanjay Guria, Shweta Dhariwal and Sarah Jane Lawton received the Social Enterprise Award for BEEJ which champions traditional handicraft skills whilst providing older people with a social network of workshops.

Four sponsored awards were also presented as part of the Think BIG competition –  The Sir Thomas White Loan Charity Award, the Potter Clarkson – Intellectual Property Development Award, the Santander Universities Award and Marketest Award. The sponsors were also among the Dragons’ Den panel that judged the competition’s winners.

The full list of Think BIG winners is available on the Think BIG website.

Steve Rothberg – the University’s Pro Vice Chancellor for Enterprise – says of the event: “My warmest congratulations to all of our enterprising students whose endeavours have been recognised by these awards. Their energy, vision and enthusiasm to succeed are an inspiration to us all.”