University of Westminster in top 25 for producing company founders

Across Westminster, employability is a key value, with academics and colleagues helping students pursue their career goals. Westminster Enterprise Network (WeNetwork) is the University’s entrepreneurial network, bringing together students and recent graduates with industry to develop their entrepreneurial skills, engage in self-employment work and create businesses. They connect students with the world of work to solve real-world problems and widen participation in entrepreneurship, enterprise opportunities and education. It offers events and activities that help students realise their potential and nurture transferable enterprise and employability skills.

By joining the Network, students and alumni have the access to workshops, experienced mentors in the industry and funding opportunities. One programme students can get involved in is the Westminster Big Idea Competition, the University’s annual student and graduate business idea and innovation competition, in partnership with Santander Universities UK. The competition encourages and supports applicants to develop their entrepreneurial skills and to build and grow their businesses, with finalists getting a share of a £43,000 funding pot.

Another key way Westminster helps its students with their businesses is through WeNetwork’s Elevate programme. The business support programme is for graduates and alumni who are active founders of a business registered and operating in the UK. The six-month programme offers tailored and strategic support to put the participating businesses on a pathway to growth, focusing on increased revenue generation and optimisation of processes.

A key feature of Elevate is the provision of up to £10,000 equity-free programme funding for the selected businesses. The participating businesses will access executive-level training and coaching and will have the opportunity to strategically invest the programme funding into the areas of the business that will generate organic growth. 

Business Management BA Honours graduate Aram Tufan engaged with WeNetwork during his time at Westminster and went on to create the company Happy Student, a supportive platform for students navigating new challenges at university. Bringing together resources on finding housing, sorting out utilities, opening a bank account, and more, Happy Student aims to help students transition into university life more easily so that they can focus on making the most of the experience.

Aram created and developed Happy Student during his time at Westminster and went on to win both the First Prize and the Viral Idea Prize in the Westminster Big Idea Competition 2022, receiving funding to further develop and extend Happy Student.

María Laín Valenzuela was also supported by Elevate when starting her company Spanish for Executives Ltd. About the programme she said: “The WeNetwork Elevate programme has been fundamental in propelling Spanish for Executives Ltd to new heights, supporting the initial stage of our latest project, our study-travel agency TTIPS (Top Tier Immersive Programmes: Spanish). With tailored and structured guidance, we've expanded our reach, enhanced our business model, and fostered valuable partnerships and connections. We are grateful to the University of Westminster and the dedicated team involved.”

The Ignite Fund is another scheme that Westminster offers to help support their entrepreneurial students. The program provides funding to help students realise their potential through a dream project, whether that is buying equipment, pay for a course, develop a website or set up a business.
So far, the Ignite Fund has awarded almost £60,000 of funding to 170 students. Formerly The 125 Fund, it is a matched funding opportunity which gives all students at the University the opportunity to apply for up to £1,500 in funding for projects and activities which enhance their employability and professional development.

The fund is made up entirely of generous donations from alumni and supporters who wish to enhance the student experience. The Quintin Hogg Trust generously matches all donations to this fund pound-for-pound.

Cumali Gultekin Deniz, a Westminster student and Ignite Fund recipient, said: “I am so incredibly grateful for this wonderful opportunity. I am the first person in my family to go to university, so to not only be going to university, but also to be chosen for the Ignite Fund makes me incredibly happy and proud of what I can accomplish. Thank you to all the University’s alumni and donors.”

Find out more about employability opportunities at Westminster and how to support students via the Ignite Fund and WeNetwork.