CEO of Vitabiotics and Westminster alumnus Tej Lalvani has visited the 29 Marylebone Road construction site, the University of Westminster’s soon-to-be hub for enterprise and employability in the heart of London.
On 6 August, Tej Lalvani, popularly known as one of the dragons on the BBC television series Dragons' Den from 2017-21, visited Westminster’s soon-to-be employability hub 29 Marylebone Road (29MR) located near the Westminster Business School (WBS) at the Marylebone Campus. The nine-storey building is still undergoing construction and will be open to Westminster students, colleagues, alumni, businesses and the local community, creating a welcoming and inclusive environment where collaboration is encouraged and valued.
Lalvani toured 29MR with Westminster's Director of Business Engagement Linsey Cole and colleagues from Morgan Sindall, the construction company delivering the refurbishment, and Gardiner and Theobald, an independent construction and property consultancy, who shared the University’s ambitions for the building and showed the current progress.
Lalvani, who has also been awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University, graduated in 1996 from Westminster’s Business Studies BA course and has been a Visiting Professor at the WBS since 2022, which has allowed students to benefit from his experience and influence in the business sector. Earlier this year, he shared advice with business-orientated students and graduates at the What it Takes to Succeed in Business event. Lalvani and his professional background will play a significant role in inspiring other young diverse entrepreneurs in the building.
Jordan Scammell, Head of Development and Fundraising at Westminster, said: “It was an absolute privilege to show Visiting Professor Tej Lalvani the development site at 29 Marylebone Road. Tej was impressed by the scale of the building and our ambitions, recognising the uniqueness of a space like this. Hearing Tej’s perspective, as a hugely successful entrepreneur, was both insightful and exciting. As an alumnus, Tej will continue to play a key role in inspiring future entrepreneurs to achieve their ambitions and I am excited to have him with us on this journey to 29 Marylebone Road!”
Lalvani added: “I’m very pleased with progress on site. Having now seen it in person, I’m even more excited by the great potential this centre will unlock for the University’s business students and future entrepreneurs.”
The University secured a £5.8m grant from the Higher Education regulator Office for Students (OfS) to build innovative training spaces at 29MR. Supported by the Baker Street Quarter, Westminster Business Council and BusinessLDN, this building is expected to open in late 2025.
The new Centre will directly contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure and 17: Partnerships for Goals. 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.
To partake in this game-changing initiative and support its realisation, email the 29 Marylebone team.
