The winners of the 2021 National Enterprise Educator Awards have been announced.
Enterprise Catalyst – an individual or team from HE or FE who are delivering exceptional enterprise education or practice inside or outside the curriculum.
The winner was Enterprise by Design, Bangor University
Bangor University has cut through traditional academic boundaries to bring students from different subjects together to compete in multi-disciplinary teams for an ‘Enterprise by Design’ challenge with a winning prize of £2,500. Now in its 11th year, Enterprise by Design (EbD) combines students drawn from Business, Arts, Science and Engineering and aims to deliver projects that are feasible (using current available technology), viable (financially) and desirable (meeting a human need).
The Business Clinic (BC) at Northumbria University, Northumbria University and MetMUnch: 10 years of Cabbage to Enterprise Eternity, Manchester Metropolitan University were Highly Commended.
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Entrepreneurship Catalyst – an individual or team from HE or FE who are delivering exceptional entrepreneurship education or practice inside or outside the curriculum
The winner was Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, University of Bristol
The Centre for Innovation & Entrepreneurship was established in 2016 as part of a flagship initiative in University strategy. The Centre hosts a suite of 4-year Integrated Masters degrees in which students study one of 14 traditional academic disciplines alongside human-centred design thinking and venture creation, a taught one-year postgraduate programme, an MPhil, and a PhD programme. The first cohort of UG students graduated in 2020 and have started up businesses at a rate 10x higher than the national average.
Imperial Enterprise Lab – Finding opportunity in adversity, Imperial College London and Engaging University Research Departments in Data-Driven Entrepreneurship, University of Edinburgh were Highly Commended.
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Rising Star in Enterprise Education – an exceptional individual at the early stage of their enterprise or entrepreneurship education or practice career in HE or FE who is making an exceptional contribution while demonstrating their potential for transformational future impact
The winner was Edward Pollock, Robert Gordon University
The Entrepreneurship and Innovation Group (EIG) at Robert Gordon University was created in 2018 to stimulate new entrepreneurial thinking and embed practice. Edward Pollock, the Innovation Manager, consistently demonstrates the highest level of dedication and commitment to this aim and his clients – RGU students, staff and graduates – who are interested in starting a new and want to learn enterprise skills. The positive impact his work has made is highlighted by the confidence and success of the start-ups teams.
Rachel Bickerdike, Durham University and Georgina Phillipson, Oxford Brookes University were Highly Commended.
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Pioneer in Enterprise Education – an exceptional individual who is actively influencing and driving transformational change and creating impact related to enterprise and entrepreneurship education or practice within their organisation and across the sector
The winner was Lydiah Igweh, Oxford Brookes University
Lydiah is a changemaker and strategic influencer committed to transforming lives and creating equal opportunity through inclusive enterprise education. She fosters a University-wide entrepreneurial culture, including contributing to the 2035 strategy, which positions Enterprise and Entrepreneurship as a golden woven thread. Her leadership has fuelled the continued growth of the University’s enterprise team, investment and portfolio from 1 programme to 13 initiatives. Recognised as an inspiring woman in HE, she contributes to the sector through impactful platforms such as the Evolve Conference.
Professor Nigel Coates, Northumbria University and Laura-Jane Silverman, London School of Economics and Political Science were Highly Commended
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Inclusive Enterprise Education Award – an additional award that will be conferred on one entry from any of the above four categories and designed to recognise excellence in driving change in Equality, Diversity, and Inclusivity (EDI) in enterprise and entrepreneurship education or practice
The winner was Siân Prime, Goldsmiths, University of London
Siân Prime is a true pioneer in enterprise education, there is a clear innovative progression from the Nesta Creative Pioneer programme to the ground breaking postgraduate university programme MA Creative and Cultural Entrepreneurship and through local entrepreneurial initiatives in South East London to global influence with real impact in more than ten countries or regions. Her approach has always been conditioned by guiding principles developed from a real understanding of the issues of Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity.
Lydiah Igweh, Oxford Brookes University and Laura-Jane Silverman, London School of Economics and Political Science were Highly Commended
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People’s Choice
All of the above shortlisted entries were invited to submit a short video for online public voting to determine the winner of an additional ‘People’s Choice’ award.
The winner was Siân Prime, Goldsmiths, University of London