Guardian University Award for Enterprise

Leeds has won a national Guardian University Award for its enterprising approach to supporting students.

Guardian awards 2016

It received the award at the Guardian University Awards for “encouraging a spirit of creativity and self-belief that helps students to launch their own enterprises.”

It's one of many awards recognising the University's entrepreneurial spirit, having been named Entrepreneurial University of the Year in the Times Higher Education Awards in 2015.

The InTechnology Incubator project, which helps new graduates looking to set up in business, proved to be the winning initiative for the Guardian awards. 

Providing a much-needed physical space on campus, it offers the full package of business advice, practical support and access to financial assistance.

One of the first entrepreneurs to use the Incubator is Sophie Tregellis, whose hobby of making dog treats has now developed into a thriving business called Top Collar, with customers across the UK.  

Collecting the award was Kairen Skelley, Business Start-Up Manager at the University, who was also announced as a National Enterprise Educator Champion in 2015.  Kairen Skelley said: "The Enterprise Incubator is a wonderful asset both for the University and for the city.

The incubator project, built on Alumni support, has been a key milestone in delivering entrepreneurship at the University, which has a long track record of supporting student entrepreneurs, with enterprise scholarships, a ‘Year in Enterprise’ programme and nationally-acclaimed student business start-up service SPARK.

The University’s partnership with M&S was also shortlisted in the Guardian University Awards.

Read more about the Award.  

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