At the recent Enactus UK Virtual National Competition the 2020 University Advisers of the year were announced. EEUK sponsors these awards and is delighted to recognise and congratulate the winners – Emma Bishop and Sophie Hyde from Loughborough University (pictured left) and Kat Mack from the University of Surrey (pictured right). The advisers were nominated by their teams for the hard work and tremendous commitments that they had all made to supporting their teams over the last year.

The Loughborough team said, “Both Emma and Sophie are dedicated to imparting an entrepreneurial education to as many students on campus as possible. Emma through student groups, and Sophie through individual student businesses. We are lucky enough to have the advice of both.”

Emma and Sophie added, “We were thrilled to be awarded the University Adviser of the Year award. It has been a real pleasure to work with our Enactus team this year. We’ve seen them grow, both as individuals and collectively – evident in Lara’s CRE of the Year Award win. We play the role of critical friend and we know that current circumstances have not made things easy for any team, but we’re extremely proud of how Enactus Loughborough rose to their challenges and listened to develop their projects based on the advice and support provided. Here’s to our new committee and next 12 months!”

The Surrey team said, “The difference in the motivation of our teams and the progress made in our projects between the period before and the period after Kat joined the University of Surrey is like night and day. We are now confident that we have a real support network that is just as invested in our success as we are.”

Kat added, “I am so proud of my team and their progress this year, and have enjoyed every moment I have spent with them from 1:1 mentoring to pitch practice in a busy train carriage on the way to London for the regionals. They are a fantastic team of individuals with a great energy and spirit. As a new adviser this year, I am absolutely overwhelmed to be recognised with the University Adviser of the Year award and the best bit is that my team nominated me themselves – that gives me the greatest sense of achievement there is!”

EEUK Chair, Gareth was a Final Round judge in the main competition and commented right after the judging, “Wow! What a buzz that was! All final round teams were sensational. Feels like the future is in good hands.”

The winning team was Enactus Nottingham who go on to represent the UK at the Global World Cup in Utrecht later this year. Catch up with all the National Competition news and videos here.