Enactus Nottingham crowned Enactus UK National Champion, 2016

Enactus Nottingham have won the Enactus UK 2016 National Competition after showcasing two of their inspirational social enterprises, beating off stiff competition from the top 35 Enactus teams across the UK. The first enterprise, 'Re-covered', employs people in need to refurbish unwanted furniture which is then sold on to residents in housing associations. The project was created in partnership with Nottingham City Council, giving Re-covered access to a large supply of used furniture around the city. The second enterprise, Aquor, uses their own water filter design to provide clean water to thousands of people in Cameroon.

The dynamic, energy filled event held at the Novotel in Hammersmith brought together 800 university students, 60 academics and over 400 senior business leaders. The Enactus teams competed for the title of Enactus UK National Champion through showcasing their community outreach projects to business executives serving as judges.

In September 2016, the victorious Enactus Nottingham team - in which several undergraduate students from the Business School feature prominently - will go on to represent Enactus UK in the Enactus World Cup in Toronto, competing against 35 other countries.

The students were evaluated by how successfully they applied business concepts and an entrepreneurial approach to improve the quality of life for those in need. The final round judging panel comprised 70 senior business leaders from blue chip companies including Lord Michael Hasting CBE, Global Head of Corporate Citizenship, KPMG International and Stuart Mitchell, Group Chief Executive at SIG plc.

Andrew Bacon, CEO of Enactus UK was delighted with the success of the event, “Congratulations to Nottingham and all of our 56 teams who delivered so much more through their projects this year. Every stage of the competition was more competitive and that is down to the hard work of all involved in the programme be they the team members, their business advisers and the support from their universities.”

Stuart West of the Ford Motor Company said of the event “Having attended 2 Enactus UK Finals, I am very impressed with the high calibre of the students and the quality of the projects undertaken. This year was especially pleasing to be able to bring the Ford C3 Awards sponsored by the Ford Motor Company Fund to the Finals and that one of our winners, Nottingham University, were also crowned as the National UK Champions. Congratulations to Nottingham University and to all of the students who participated.”

About Enactus

Founded in 1975, Enactus is an international community of student, academic and business leaders committed to using the power of entrepreneurial action to transform lives and shape a better, more sustainable world. Enactus UK was founded in 2001 and now operates in 56 universities, with more than 3000 active students.

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