Top award cements Falmouth’s high ranking for entrepreneurship

Falmouth University recently received a top national award for excellence in entrepreneurship education, demonstrating why the University is fast gaining traction across the UK as a place for students who dream of starting their own business. 

The National Enterprise Educator Awards celebrates those who have demonstrated inspirational commitment to supporting student and graduate entrepreneurship. Falmouth was announced as winner in recognition of the outstanding achievements of the last 18 months, where a series of student start-up business activities resulted in the creation of more than 60 new businesses and over 100 new jobs.  

Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management MSc course leader Marcus Simmons accepted the award on behalf of the academic and student business support team from the Launchpad business incubator. The team was praised by judges for their programme of tailored activities. Attended by 170 Falmouth and Exeter students from a diverse range of courses, events included two TechStars start-up weekends, two Freelance Extravaganza evenings, a summer-school business boot camp and an Agri-tec hackathon. 

The latest award is just one of three key milestones demonstrating ongoing and outstanding entrepreneurial success. Falmouth's high employment and business start-up rates for entrepreneurship have been highlighted in the Graduate Outcomes Survey (GOS). 

The GOS survey tracks what graduates are doing 18 months after they complete their course. A key measure of success for all UK universities, Falmouth’s GOS data reveals that it is one of the very best for entrepreneurial outcomes, placed fourth in the UK for student start-up businesses, with 190 start-ups created by students who graduated from all courses in 2022, and 95% of students who study entrepreneurship either employed or starting up their own businesses within 18 months of graduating.  

Marcus Simmons commented: “I was thrilled to accept the award on behalf of the people who have worked so hard to support student entrepreneurial activity. It’s really rewarding that our efforts have been recognised by our peers at a national level. Falmouth University has developed an outstanding track record in student business start-ups, yet has largely gone under the radar for many prospective students. 

He added: "I’d say to anyone who dreams of starting a business, 'come to Falmouth to be surrounded by like-minded, creative and entrepreneurial people, taught by award-winning educators and to give your business idea the best possible chance of success'."

Find out more about Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management MSc