Date: November 2025
Issued by: National Centre for Entrepreneurship in Education (NCEE)

The National Centre for Entrepreneurship in Education (NCEE) is delighted to announce that the University of Bristol’s Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship has been awarded the NCEE Entrepreneurial Award, achieving the highest possible three-year accreditation.

This recognition celebrates the Centre’s deeply embedded culture of enterprise, interdisciplinary innovation, and civic engagement, positioning it as a benchmark for entrepreneurial education in the UK and internationally. The Centre joins a growing network of entrepreneurial universities and centres recognised by NCEE this year, including Liverpool Business School and other leading institutions driving innovation and regional impact.

Independent reviewers praised the Centre for its distinctive and values-led approach, noting that enterprise and entrepreneurship are “woven into its educational DNA.” With 14 undergraduate pathways and multiple postgraduate routes, the Centre brings together students from across disciplines to collaborate on real-world briefs, combining creativity, innovation, and social purpose.

The review highlighted exceptional strengths in:

• Leadership and culture, with a team of around 30 ‘pracademic’ staff-entrepreneurs, commercial leaders, and academics, who model entrepreneurial practice.
• Student and graduate outcomes, supported by the flagship Runway accelerator, which has distributed over £400,000 in grants and helped ventures leverage more than £20 million in follow-on investment.

Reviewers also commended the Centre’s strong commitment to female inclusivity, noting that 60% of students are female and female founders supported by the Centre outperform national benchmarks in raising venture funding.

Speaking on behalf of NCEE, Ceri Nursaw, Chief Executive of NCEE, said:

“The Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Bristol stands out as a flagship example of how universities can embed enterprise into every aspect of teaching, leadership, and community engagement. Its impact extends regionally, nationally, and globally — combining academic excellence with a clear entrepreneurship mission. We are delighted to welcome Bristol into our community of Entrepreneurial Award winners”.

Speaking on behalf of University of Bristol’s Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Ben Hobbs, Senior Lecturer, said:

“We are delighted to be recognised by the NCEE for our commitment in embedding creativity, critical thinking, and enterprise across our programmes.  This award reflects the strength of our community of staff, students, and partners who share a commitment to innovation that delivers both economic and social value. Our students learn by addressing real-world challenges, developing the skills and mindsets that define Bristol graduates. The Centre’s outstanding employability and student founder outcomes demonstrate the lasting impact of our approach and our contribution to the University’s mission to create graduates who make a positive difference in the world”.