Manchester students crowned nation’s most enterprising

A team of University of Manchester students have scooped the University Society of the Year award from the National Association of College and University Entrepreneurs (NACUE).

They received their accolade  at the NACUE Annual Society Awards Dinner, held at the prestigious Institute of Directors in London.

Manchester Entrepreneurs, one of over 85 enterprise societies in the Higher education network, beat off stiff competition to scoop the award.

This award recognizes events, competitions and activities, which help students to engage with enterprise and entrepreneurship, and serve as a platform to develop more businesses in the community.

The society has helped student startups, connected with incubators and investors from the Greater Manchester area while hosting over 35 events that range from inspirational talks to educational workshops and conferences.

Dan Sodergren, one of the judges, said: “Manchester entrepreneurs becoming the NACUE University Society of the Year in 2013 is testimony not only to the great marketing work of this years' crop of new talent but of four years hard work which finally has been noticed. What other society has had such a viral marketing campaign? With 800,000 YouTube views and counting. Truly impressive. Very proud to have been a small part of it all.”

Manchester Entrepreneurs was launched in 2008, bringing together a small community of young leaders through inspirational TEDx-like talks.

It attracted a young audience from all over Manchester, growing from 70 members in 2008 to 700 in 2009, to 3000 members during presidency of Stan Reinholds in 2011, and finally to over 4000 today as Fahim Sachedina steps down from the post.

Fahim Sachedina, President of Manchester Entrepreneurs 2012-13, said: “It is a truly remarkable achievement for the society to have come so far as to be recognised on a national level. Manchester Entrepreneurs always strives to push boundaries and encourage members to have the belief that they can succeed and this year the society has felt as if it’s announced itself as being an integral part of the entrepreneurial scene. The society only wants to keep pushing the bar higher and higher, and encourage more talented individuals to think about setting up a business.”

Richard Kuti, Head of Network stated; “Manchester Entrepreneurs have shown the ability to design and deliver an amazingly diverse programme of activity for their members. They’ve contributed to the personal development of many students along the way and are a fantastic example of this new generation of entrepreneurial students. This Award recognises that achievement and the impact they’ve had in this academic year, and is a landmark for everyone in the network.”

Notes for editors

More information about Manchester Entrepreneurs can be found at www.manchesterentrepreneurs.org.uk.

More information about NACUE can be found at www.nacue.com.

For media enquires contact:

Tom McCann,
Incoming President
07714017276
tom.mccann@manchesterentrepreneurs.org.uk

or

Mike Addelman
Press Officer
Faculty of Humanities
The University of Manchester
0161 275 0790
07717 881567
Michael.addelman@manchester.ac.uk