Award nomination for enterprising staff member

A Coventry University staff member has been shortlisted for a national award after her work helping graduates launch their own business in the UK which has so far generated over £100,000.

Summayyah Hussain, who works at Coventry University Enterprise Hub, was nominated for Business Manager of the Year at the annual CUBO awards in recognition of her work to help international graduates launch businesses in the UK.

Her work has helped develop the Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur (GE) Visa scheme to manage the demands of the university’s International Office, immigration regulations and the graduates’ business plans.

The incubator programme has enables students to develop their ideas in the best ways possible and now brings in over £100,000 each year.

The scheme works with young entrepreneurs to develop their ideas into a viable business plan, coach them in pitching and presentation skills and ensure all the levels of endorsement and legal requirements are met in a much more effective way.

Once graduates are granted their Tier 1 visa they remain in the programme for 12 months where they are given ongoing support including business mentoring and access to the university’s Global Leaders Programme.

The visa scheme is open to any international graduate looking to launch their own business in the UK and has 25 graduates in the pipeline at any one time.

The winner of the CUBO awards will be announced at a ceremony on 28 June following a vote by members.

Summayyah Hussain