University South West Enterprise Awards (USWEA) 2010
The 2010 entries into the University South West Enterprise Awards were the BUG Competition Winners 2010, Anna and Joanna Surowiec, with their martial art school business 'Active Krav Maga'. They will receive the results at a special awards evening in Plymouth during Global Entrepreneurship Week on Tuesday November 16th 2010.
USWEA 2010 awards here.
University South West Enterprise Awards (USWEA) 2009
The University South West Enterprise Awards (USWEA) became the new name for the inter-university business plan competition previously run by Knowledge West. 2009 saw 10 universities from across the south west compete for the £4000 prize fund in the two categories. BUG Competition Winner 2009, Riz Galiyara, entered the 'Best Staff/Alumni' category with his business 'Smart Notebooks', whilst runner-up Simon de la Rue entered the 'Best Student ' category with his business 'Change My Address'.
Both entrants were up against some extremely tough competition and unfortunately did not manage to win. More information on the other finalists can be found here.
More information on the 2009 awards can be found here.
Knowledge West Enterprise Awards (KWEA) 2008
The 2008 BUG Competition Winner Pia Cato and Runner Up Louise Holme were entered into the 2008 Knowledge West Enterprise Awards (KWEA). Knowledge West is your local gateway to world class expertise from an extensive range of academic and commercial experts. Knowledge West develops collaborative flagship Initiatives for business, provides continuing professional development, events for business themed on business innovation and the knowledge economy, and advice about business innovation networks.
The KWEA is a regional inter-university competition with the categories of “Best Student Business Plan” which awarded a £7500 prize and a “Best Alumni Business Plan” which also awarded a £7500 prize. Both categories also offered a runner up prize of £2500. Entries from six higher educational institutes took part in the competition last December from establishments such as University of Gloucestershire, University of the West of England, University of Bristol, University or Bath, Bath Spa University and the Royal Agricultural College.
Unfortunately despite submitting a high quality business plan and a fantastic pitch to the competition judges both Pia and Louise were pipped to the post by two fantastic entries from the Royal Agricultural College.
The University of Gloucestershire also entered this competition last year with the management team of Ellen Sinclair and BUG’s own James Garrod. Whilst James and Ellen also did not win the KWEA competition, they did acquire a vast wealth of experience and knowledge with regards to starting up a new business, which will doubtless be of use to them for many years to come.
“It was an experience that has greatly benefited me and has developed my business thinking and planning abilities in a way that standard university modules could not and encouraged me to give very serious thought to starting my own business……This competition and the experience it has given me would be invaluable to anyone who has ever considered starting their own business.”
James Garrod - shortly after the KWEA competition 2007
The competition will be returning next year and promises to be bigger and better than ever with even more universities taking part, making the competition tougher than ever.
If you would like to find out more about Knowledge West please take a look at their website http://www.knowledgewest.org.uk/enterpriseawards/
James Garrod
(KWEA 2007 entrant)