The University of Westminster has been shortlisted for two London Higher Awards 2024. Westminster has been recognised in two categories: Best Entrepreneurial Initiative at a London University and Outstanding Contribution to Student Employability. 

Students smile while looking at whiteboard.

The London Higher Awards recognise excellence across 12  categories in London’s higher education sector. This year, the awards received 159 submissions from 38 universities. Westminster was shortlisted in two categories, recognising the University’s outstanding work in entrepreneurship and employability. The winners will be announced on 6 June at the London Higher Awards ceremony.

The shortlist for the Best Entrepreneurial Initiative at a London University recognises a London Higher member who has demonstrated an exceptional approach to embedding entrepreneurship within its community. The University of Westminster has been recognised for its commitment to fostering entrepreneurship among underrepresented groups, through programmes delivered by the Westminster Enterprise Network (WeNetwork), which brings students and recent graduates together with industry to develop their entrepreneurship skills. The shortlisted entry for London Higher specifically spotlights WeNetwork’s Elevate business support programme, which launched in 2022-2023 to support alumni business founders from underrepresented communities with tailored mentoring, workshops and funding opportunities.

The University of Westminster has also been shortlisted for its outstanding contribution to student employability, through providing inclusive opportunities to develop the confidence and professional networks of our students. Following the publication of the Being Westminster 22-29 strategy, the University has significantly scaled a series of employability programmes within and outside of the curriculum, including Future Ready Mentoring, Westminster Working Cultures, WeNetwork enterprise activities, the Early Careers Support Package and Westminster Employability Award.

Speaking about the awards, Professor Dibyesh Anand, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Global Engagement and Employability, said: “It is fantastic to see the University’s outstanding employability and entrepreneurial initiatives recognised not only for their excellence, but also for our commitment to diversity and inclusion of students from all backgrounds. We are devoted to providing opportunities which enable all students to thrive after graduation, whatever their professional ambitions may be.”

The University’s employability initiatives directly contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.

Learn more about Employability at Westminster.
 

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