Published on 11/07/2022
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Aston University has four ‘Future Faces’ nominated for awards
  • Four Aston University graduates nominated for Future Faces Annual Awards
  • Awards recognise and celebrate young talent across the West Midlands
  • Three of the Aston University graduate nominees have taken part in the budding entrepreneur programme BSEEN.
     

Four entrepreneurial Aston University graduates have made the shortlist for the Future Faces annual awards.

The awards are organised by Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce to recognise and celebrate young talent across the West Midlands.

Three of the Aston University graduate nominees took part in the BSEEN business support programme and have been nominated in separate categories.

The nominees are:

•    Davies Okeowo, Novel Innovations Ltd, for the Future Face of Start-ups & Enterprise
•    Ravi Ranjan, Voilo, for the Future Face of Technology & Innovation
•    Vishal Mishra, Hummingbird Fintech, for the Future Face of Finance.

All three have decided to remain in the region to build up their businesses, so the BSEEN programme is helping them make their move permanent.

The fourth nominee from Aston University is Gurdeep Chima, who now manages Aston University’s Centre for Research in Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurship (CRÈME). Gurdeep has been nominated for the Future Face of Education and Public Sector award.

Kath Rice, enterprise consultant for BSEEN, said: “We’re so pleased to see the hard work and determination of these graduates highlighted.

“It’s a pleasure to work with these three new entrepreneurs, watching their business ideas grow which will have the potential to benefit the local region’s economy.”

The individual crowned overall Greater Birmingham Young Person of the Year will receive a fully funded place on the Aston University MBA.

The winners will be announced at the awards dinner on Friday 26 August at the ICC in Birmingham.

Chris Brewerton, head of Sutton Coldfield Chamber of Commerce and Lichfield & Tamworth Chamber of Commerce, led the judging panel. He said: “We’ve had over 80 young people apply for the Future Faces Annual Awards and Dinner this year.

“It was a privilege to read through all the applications alongside the judging panel, and the very high quality of entries highlights the calibre of young people working in the Greater Birmingham region.  

“We can’t wait for all the shortlisted nominees to be able to come together and celebrate their achievements at the awards at the ICC in August.”


Photo caption: Davies Okeowo

Notes to editors

About Aston University

Founded in 1895 and a University since 1966, Aston is a long established university led by its three main beneficiaries – students, business and the professions, and our region and society. Aston University is located in Birmingham and at the heart of a vibrant city and the campus houses all the university’s academic, social and accommodation facilities for our students. Saskia Loer Hansen is the interim Vice-Chancellor & Chief Executive.

Aston University was named University of the Year 2020 by The Guardian and the University’s full time MBA programme has been ranked in the top 100 in the world in the Economist MBA 2021 ranking. The Aston MBA has been ranked 12th in the UK and 85th in the world.

For media inquiries in relation to this release, contact Nicola Jones, Press and Communications Manager, on (+44)7825 342091 or email n.jones6@aston.ac.uk

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