Written by Lynn O'Byrne
Warwick: Leadership for Educational Transformation
A unique programme Leadership for Educational Transformation (LET) aimed at supporting the rebuilding of the education system in Ukraine founded by an EEUK Fellow, Dr Bo Kelestyn. With 50+ educational leaders from Ukraine taking part, the programme generated several impact stories and a series of WonkHE articles co-created by the LET participants and staff leading the programme. One of the articles explored the links between education and innovation, emphasising the value of the UK enterprise education experience for Ukraine, spotlighting the EEUK Fellowship and community, and the ETC toolkit. Learn how you can stand with Ukraine as an enterprise educator.
Brookes Enterprise Support
With a new team of student/graduate support advisors appointed at Oxford Brookes in September, Brookes Enterprise Support is back! With a dedicated team of in-house, start-up business advisors, their drive to enhance the student experience has been inspiring. Designing and delivering a wide range of programmes to support ideation, freelancing, and wider enterprise skills and attributes, in addition to 1:1 business start-up support, this renewed service has achieved a huge amount in just a few months. They will be attending their first IEEC in September and are keen to connect with the EntEd community; do say hello.
Derby: Student Art Enterprise Challenge
The University of Derby recently ran a competition open to their School of Arts students to win £500 towards creating a piece of work. This new challenge is designed to inspire creative students from a wide variety of courses to consider their future as potential freelancers, small business owners and creative entrepreneurs. It also gave them the chance to learn new skills around enterprise and thinking about costs and profits. The completed works will be showcased at the University’s creative industries incubator, Banks Mill Studios at their prestigious Open Studios event on 22-24 November later this year.
Open Business Creators Fund for Disabled Entrepreneurs
The Open University (OU) has awarded a total of £60,000 to 18 aspiring entrepreneurs to support the next generation of student entrepreneurs through its 2024 Open Business Creators Fund competition. The OU are also partnering with Scope to launch the Open Business Creators Fund for Disabled Entrepreneurs in September to encourage early stage founders to share their ideas and access support and funding. With a total prize fund of £25k provided by the Open University, this funding competition will support any disabled person in the UK who is at the idea or very early stage of starting up a business.
Contact Rob Wilson to learn more.
Cumbria: The University of Cumbria launches Student Enterprise Survey
As part of an ongoing commitment to invest in enterprise and entrepreneurial activity at the University of Cumbria, the Student Enterprise Team has launched an online survey to find out what students and alumni would like to have available at the university. With questions covering delivery method, extracurricular activities, workshop content, and additional qualifications, findings from the survey will help shape the future of enterprise and innovation services and contribute to the development of a UoC Enterprise Strategy. Any enterprise educators who would like a copy of the survey questions are welcome to contact Laura at laura.kirk@cumbria.ac.uk
UCL: Celebrating UCL’s inspiring startup community
UCL startups received funding and recognition for their achievements at this year’s entrepreneurial summer showcase. Read more here.
Manchester: 2024 Eli & Britt Harari Graphene Enterprise Award
The Masood Entrepreneurship Centre announced the winners of the 2024 Eli & Britt Harari Graphene Enterprise Award earlier this July. This award supported students, researchers, and recent graduates in launching businesses involving graphene or other 2D materials, focusing on innovation and commercial impact.The top prize of £50,000 was awarded to Kun Huang of Solar Ethos. The second prize of £20,000 went to Hafiza Hifza Nawaz of Fabstics. All finalists received support, including pitching workshops and IP advice. Speeches were given by Lynn Sheppard, Prof. James Baker, Dr. Vivek Koncherry, Liam Johnson, Prof. Luke Georghiou, and Dr. Eli Harari. Link to full article.
Derby:Seven University of Derby students win a rent-free creative studio for a year.
The Banks Mill Student Residency Award is a fantastic opportunity for current students and recent graduates to develop new work and business skills in a creative and collaborative environment. The successful applicants not only win access to a year’s rent-free studio space worth more than £3,000, but they also have an opportunity to exhibit and promote their work through Banks Mill, including taking part in the prestigious Open Studios event later in November. The judges saw that there would be an excellent opportunity for support and collaboration between many of the applicants and are pleased to announce the winners here
Loughborough University’s Kate Allan honoured with Women in Innovation Purple Plaque
Symbolising Kate’s remarkable journey and groundbreaking achievements. ExpHand Prosthetics, founded in 2017 during her final year while studying Product Design Engineering. She met Zoey, a little girl with congenital limb-loss, Kate realised her potential to change lives. Through 3D-printing, Kate designed a prosthetic, providing affordable, life-changing upper limb prosthetics. The ExpHand is now being used by children across the UK and internationally with an upcoming product trial in Kenya. Kate joins a network of over 200 innovate women winners developing inspiring solutions to pressing societal, environmental, and economic challenges.
ARU first in UK to receive prestigious NCEE award
Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) has become the first UK institution to receive the prestigiousEntrepreneurial University Award from the National Centre for Entrepreneurship in Education (NCEE). This award, launched in 2024, honours universities that make a significant impact on their communities through innovative and transformational practices. ARU impressed the independent review panel with its leadership structure supporting enterprise and student entrepreneurship, strategic priorities, and diverse support programmes. Highlights include ARU’s Entrepreneurs’ Community, Alumni Network, ARISE Innovation Hubs, and integration of enterprise into the curriculum, all supported by strong industry engagement and community involvement.