University’s Young Enterprise programme wins prestigious sustainability award

Manchester Metropolitan were awarded the 'Enterprise' award at the Green Gown Awards

A business start-up programme open to final year undergraduate students at Manchester Metropolitan University’s Business School has been awarded a top sustainability prize at the annual Green Gown Awards.

The University’s Young Enterprise programme was recognised for enhancing students’ enterprise skills in a way that brings benefits to society and the environment.

The Green Gown Awards, which are awarded by the UK’s championing body for sustainability in universities and colleges the Environmental Association of Universities and Colleges (EAUC), praised Manchester Metropolitan for demonstrating how its programme helps students’ build sustainability into the core of their start-up businesses, bringing a positive social impact to local communities.

The Young Enterprise programme, which is an optional unit available to final year undergraduate students at the University’s Business School, has developed the entrepreneurial and sustainability credentials of 370 start-up businesses since 2001.

The programme allows teams of students to create business concepts and models to launch and trade creative new products and services. The teams are mentored by representatives from local businesses and industry who form a ‘Dragons’ Den’ panel to award and advise the students taking part.

As part of this panel, Professor Sally Randles, Professor of Sustainability and Innovation at Manchester Metropolitan, is included as a ‘Green Dragon’ to guide the environmental and sustainability impact of each business, while also awarding an annual ‘Sustainability Student Business Award’.

David Taylor, Faculty Lead for Student Enterprise at Manchester Metropolitan University, said: “The Green Gown Award is a fantastic recognition of the work our students have done to launch a range of innovative new businesses and products, as well as the commitment from our University to embed our sustainability credentials at every step of the programme.

“Young Enterprise gives students an opportunity to apply their learning and provides a stepping-stone to experience the real world of business. What is unique about our approach is how we integrate enterprise and sustainability into the DNA of the students’ businesses.”

Catherine Mensah, who recently graduated from Manchester Metropolitan’s Business Management course, said: “Young Enterprise has given me the skills and ability I now need in my current job role and made me understand what career path I want to take. Not only is the programme exciting, fun and engaging, but it also helps you to develop and boost your skills as well as giving you the chance to develop your very own products.”

Established in 2004, the Green Gown Awards recognise the exceptional sustainability initiatives being undertaken by universities and colleges in the UK and Ireland. With sustainability moving up the agenda, the awards have become established as the most prestigious recognition of best practice within the further and higher education sector.

In awarding Manchester Metropolitan, the judges praised the way the University supports social, economic and environmental enterprise and inclusion by empowering students from all backgrounds, developing talent and delivering positive sustainable outcomes.

Professor Malcolm Press, Vice-Chancellor at Manchester Metropolitan University, said: “I am delighted the Green Gown Awards have recognised the University’s commitment to developing the employability of our students in ways that place enterprise skills within wider social and environmental considerations.

“This supports them to become future-ready, finding innovative ways to tackle global challenges now and in the years ahead.”

Find out more about Manchester Metropolitan’s Young Enterprise programme and some of the products and businesses it has helped to launch.