Coventry named top entrepreneurship university in national business awards competition

Coventry University has won a prestigious business award for its efforts to promote and support entrepreneurial opportunities among its staff, students, businesses and the wider community.

Coventry picked up the Duke of York Award for University Entrepreneurship at the Lloyds Bank National Business Awards 2017. It was announced the winner at a gala awards ceremony held at the Grosvenor Park Hotel in London on Tuesday 14 November.

Now in their 16th year, the awards recognise and reward business excellence in the UK and are open to any company across the country, whether public, private or third sector, and regardless of size or industry. 

In total there were 17 hotly contested award categories this year, covering different aspects of business such as customer service, innovation and sustainability, and focusing on achievements in these areas over the past 18 months.

Coventry was amongst seven universities from across the UK shortlisted in the university entrepreneurship category. It emerged as winner with the judging panel – made up of members of high profile companies from the private and public sectors - commending the depth and breadth of the university’s services, which include dedicated enterprise based degree courses, expert tutoring, placement services, consultancy and financial support.

Coventry’s work helping not-for-profit social enterprises – it has a dedicated subsidiary (CU Social Enterprise) - was also singled out for special praise by the judges.

Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Enterprise & Innovation Paul Noon said:

“We’re delighted to have won the Duke of York Award for University Entrepreneurship at this year’s National Business Awards. It’s the flagship event for business excellence and it’s immensely satisfying to have come out on top in the entrepreneurship category.

 Enterprise and entrepreneurship is core to what Coventry University is focussed on and we are extremely proud of the support we give to staff and students to set up new and innovative companies. We also work with social enterprises as part of our wider community engagement programme and we were really pleased to hear the judges commending our efforts in this area.

 With plans being made for a new Knowledge Exchange Framework to measure how effectively the higher education sector works with businesses and communities, it’s especially pleasing that the work we are doing to nurture and support enterprise and innovation is being recognised at a national level.”