Four entrepreneurs, all connected with De Montfort University Leicester (DMU), have been nominated at the prestigious 2025 East Midlands Real Entrepreneurs’ Awards, showcasing the growing impact of the university’s support for start-ups.
The finalists, who are graduates and current students, were selected for their entrepreneurial achievements and innovative business ideas. Their recognition highlights the success of DMU’s Crucible business incubation programme, which has provided critical mentorship, support, and resources for students looking to launch and grow their own companies.
In line with this success, Universities UK (UUK) has recently launched a national campaign to demonstrate the powerful role universities play in supporting and motivating students to become entrepreneurs. An analysis by UUK predicts that by 2028, UK universities could produce around 27,000 new start-ups with a total turnover of £10.8 billion, underscoring the importance of educational institutions in fostering innovation.
DMU has already established a strong track record in this area. According to figures from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), DMU helped create 104 businesses in the 2022/23 academic year, ranking it among the top 10 UK universities for start-ups, and the highest in the Midlands.
Finalists at the East Midlands Real Entrepreneurs’ Awards
The four DMU entrepreneurs have been nominated in various categories at the East Midlands Real Entrepreneurs’ Awards, an event created to celebrate regional enterprise. Here’s a closer look at the nominees:
Simon Sansome – Entrepreneur for Good: A Journalism graduate, Simon is the creator of Snowball Community, a mobile app designed to help the disabled community find accessible venues across the UK. Since launching the app, Simon has received multiple accolades, including the £25,000 Santander X award.
Sallyanne Kirk – Start-up Entrepreneur of the Year: A Fashion Communication and Styling graduate, Sallyanne is the founder of Leicester Fashion District, a community interest company dedicated to promoting ethical fashion and emerging designers through seasonal fashion shows.
Jane Hearst – Entrepreneurial Collaborator: Jane, a PhD student at DMU’s School of Humanities and Performing Arts, focuses on Arts-for-Health, examining how to measure and assign value to arts-based health services in the UK.
Rhys Everquill – Young Entrepreneur of the Year: A Drama graduate, Rhys co-founded The Leicester Gazette, a local news platform aimed at providing a fresh perspective on community journalism.
These nominations are a testament to the effectiveness of DMU’s Crucible programme, which has helped countless students and alumni turn their business ideas into reality. The university’s focus on building a robust entrepreneurial community goes beyond numbers; it’s about empowering students to create businesses that make a lasting impact.
Support from DMU’s Crucible Programme
Percy Emmett, Senior Lecturer in Enterprise and Director of the Crucible programme, commented on the significance of these nominations: “At DMU, we’re not just helping students launch businesses; we’re supporting them as individuals. Our programme helps develop essential skills like confidence, resilience, and leadership, enabling students to grow both professionally and personally.”
Emmett added that the Crucible programme provides hands-on support, mentorship, and funding guidance to ensure students can turn their innovative ideas into successful businesses. “Being in the top 10 UK universities for start-ups is a proud achievement, but what’s more important is empowering our students to build sustainable businesses and create jobs.”
The winners of the 2025 East Midlands Real Entrepreneurs’ Awards will be announced at a ceremony on Thursday, April 10. The recognition of these four entrepreneurs reflects the growing strength of DMU’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and its impact on the wider community.
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