By Professor Stephanie Hussels, Group Head: Strategy, Entrepreneurship & Sustainability, Cranfield University

At Cranfield, entrepreneurship is more than just a buzzword, it’s embedded into the fabric of who we are. As Director of the Bettany Centre for Entrepreneurship and Director of the Business Growth Programme – the longest-established owner-manager programme in the UK – I see every single day what makes Cranfield a place where enterprise is not just taught, but lived and applied in real-world contexts.

Over the past five years, entrepreneurship has become increasingly integral to our identity. It shapes our culture, influences our teaching and research and drives our regional and global engagement. Our Innovation Committee, chaired by the Pro Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation, provides strategic oversight of this agenda and makes sure it aligns with our 2022-27 Research and Innovation Strategy so we remain focused on creating meaningful impact.

At the centre of this ecosystem is the Bettany Centre, which supports students, staff and alumni in transforming ideas into real-world ventures. This isn’t abstract theory, but is instead focused on building confidence, capability and community through practical support, mentoring and access to investment networks.

Proof of those values is the fact that Cranfield has supported over 1000 SMEs since 2021 through co-designed scholarship programmes and national initiatives such as Help to Grow: Management. 188 of those have been in our local area, and we’re proud of that regional impact. SMEs are critical to the UK economy, so it’s vital that they have available resource at both local and national level to give them every chance to succeed.

One of our most innovative developments was the 2022 launch of the Cranfield Seed Fund. What makes it unique is how we actively involve students in the investment due diligence process. That gives them hands-on experience working alongside founders and investors and deepens their entrepreneurial acumen as they encounter the challenges first-hand. Since launch, the fund has backed 23 early-stage ventures across sectors as diverse as sustainability, fintech, and consumer innovation.

Cranfield also champions innovation in response to the climate crisis. We have a partnership with Green Investments Ltd through which we developed a three-stage climate innovation pipeline comprising the Future Frontiers Fund, Technology Accelerator Fund and the Entrepreneurs Fund. To date, 98 ventures have generated £19million in funding using this pathway.

Academically, recognition from the Small Business Charter and Bloomberg’s #1 ranking of our MBA entrepreneurship offering in the UK and Europe underscores the quality and reach of our work. Our students continue to excel globally – whether reaching the Hult Prize finals or hosting major competitions like the Venture Capital Investment Competition, where this year Cranfield hosted the Northern European Final for the seventh time.

Cranfield’s entrepreneurial ecosystem is institution-wide, purpose-driven, inclusive, and aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This commitment has fostered stronger student outcomes, deeper alumni ties, and added lasting economic and social value on the regional, national and global stages.

Stories like this remind us what’s possible when universities truly engage with their communities — something the NCEE Entrepreneurial University Award is designed to celebrate.

If you’re doing work that’s making a difference, why not shine a light on it? Submit your application and let others learn from your impact.