Recognition for entrepreneurial students

Work in the community by entrepreneurial members of Teesside University’s Enactus team has earned national recognition.

Teesside Enactus reached the semi-finals of Enactus UK 2016, competing against the top 35 teams from across the UK. They were also the only team from a modern university to reach the top 20 and achieved the Most Improved Enactus Team award.

Enactus is an international non-profit organisation which brings together student, academic and business leaders who are committed to using entrepreneurial action to improve the quality of life and standard of living for people in need.

Guided by academic advisors and business experts, the student members of Enactus Teesside created and implement an innovative community empowerment project.

The event brought together 800 university students, 60 academics and around 400 senior business leaders. The Enactus teams were competing for the national champion title by showcasing their community outreach projects to the 70-strong judging panel comprising business executives from blue chip companies.

The students were evaluated on how successfully they applied business concepts and an entrepreneurial approach to improve quality of life for those in need.

The winning team, Enactus Nottingham which showcased two inspirational social enterprises, will go on to represent Enactus UK in the Enactus World Cup 2016 and will compete against 35 other countries in Toronto, Canada in September.

Andy Price, Head of Enterprise Development and Education and Enactus Teesside University Advisor in the University’s Department of Student Services, said: 'I couldn’t have been prouder by what the Enactus team from Teesside University have achieved.

'At their first attempt and up against the most prestigious university teams in the country they have shown that our students have the talent, determination and entrepreneurial spirit to compete successfully with the very best.'

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