Professor Lee Pugalis appointed Director of the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre

Professor Lee Pugalis will lead the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre into its next chapter as part of Unit M, with an ambition to make entrepreneurship a defining feature of the Manchester student experience.

The University of Manchester has appointed Professor Lee Pugalis as Director of the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre (MEC).

MEC is the University’s home for enterprise and entrepreneurship, working with students and graduates from every discipline. Through its strategy, Manchester 2035, the University has committed to supporting entrepreneurship for all and to becoming the university of choice for starting a company or social enterprise. Lee will lead MEC in making that ambition a reality: building students’ entrepreneurial skills and employability, supporting ventures that create jobs and social impact, and turning research into innovative businesses.

“Manchester has always been a city of innovators, and the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre plays a vital role in nurturing the next generation of founders, changemakers and problem-solvers. I’m thrilled to lead the centre at such an exciting time, working with our fantastic team, students and partners to make entrepreneurship truly open to all.” Professor Lee Pugalis, Director of the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre

Lee joined MEC as Deputy Director in August 2023 and has led the centre as Interim Director since January 2026, guiding it through its transition into Unit M. He takes up the role at a time of strong momentum. The number of start-ups launched each year has more than doubled over the past three years, growing at an average of nearly 30% annually, with a record 81 new start-ups launched in 2025/26. The alumni ventures MEC has helped develop have secured more than £495 million in investment over the past five years. In 2025/26, MEC also supported over 520 early-stage entrepreneurs in the first year of its new four-pathway model, and 1,790 students enrolled across 30 course units representing all three faculties.

MEC has supported student and graduate entrepreneurs for over 25 years. Its professional services team has now moved into Unit M, the University’s gateway to innovation, working alongside academic colleagues based within the world-leading Innovation, Management and Policy division at Alliance Manchester Business School (AMBS).

As Director, Lee will lead MEC’s team of around 30 academic and professional services colleagues, bringing together its curricular and co-curricular activity. He will deepen MEC’s partnership with AMBS, strengthen links with faculties and schools, and scale opportunities so that all 47,000 of the University’s students can take part, whatever their discipline. This includes partner-enabled learning, through which students work with employers, public bodies and community organisations as part of their course for credit.

“Lee’s appointment is excellent news for the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre and for Alliance Manchester Business School. He brings a strong track record of leadership, collaboration and a clear commitment to making entrepreneurship accessible to students from every discipline. Under his direction, MEC will strengthen its deep roots within AMBS while extending its reach and impact across the University through Unit M. I look forward to working with Lee as we equip more students and researchers with the skills, confidence and connections to turn bold ideas into ventures that deliver economic and social value.”
Professor Ken McPhail, Head of Alliance Manchester Business School

MEC is also home to the University’s flagship student entrepreneurship competitions, which offer equity-free funding and support to student and graduate founders. In 2026, 29 finalists were selected from around 200 applications to compete for 11 awards across four tracks, sharing a record £200,000 prize pot. Eligible applications were up 48% on the previous year.

MEC hosted three events at the University’s inaugural Innovation Festival this year, attracting more than 300 attendees:

· Ideas Unlocked: an interactive workshop introducing entrepreneurship and innovation to students, whatever their experience

· Partner-Enabled Learning Exchange: a session exploring how to embed industry partnerships into enterprise and entrepreneurship education

· Manchester Venture Builder Demo Day 2026: delivered with Venture Cafe Manchester, where emerging University founders pitched to investors, mentors, alumni and ecosystem leaders

Lee’s appointment comes as the University delivers A Powerhouse of Innovation, its plan to become Europe’s most inclusive and impactful innovation ecosystem by 2035. With entrepreneurship embedded across the curriculum and co-curriculum, MEC will help develop the innovation-savvy entrepreneurs and workforce of the future, creating jobs, ventures and impact for Manchester and beyond.

Find out more about MEC and how to get involved on the centre’s website.

Discover more about Unit M.