Loughborough staff member joins Capital Enterprise Board
Loughborough University London’s Head of Future Space, Ben Cole has been announced as a new board member for the UK’s Startup experts, Capital Enterprise. This will see Loughborough represented in a major UK agency for entrepreneurial growth and will bring greater access to start-up and commercialisation support for students and staff.
Capital Enterprise has a long tradition of working in tandem with Loughborough University London. In 2016, Future Space became the home of FFWD - the pan-London pre-accelerator for tech start-ups. Researchers from Loughborough also helped to develop the diversity and inclusion programme One Tech. This programme set out with a mission to double the number of Black and female founders in the UK. It now runs a range of activities across London for potential founders, investors, business owners, managers, and entrepreneurs from under-served communities.
Ben has been selected for his commitment to closing the gap between university innovation and the entrepreneurial eco-system in the UK and beyond. He is one of the founders of the Startup Higher community and has led on scaling Venture Crawl to an international event.
Most recently Capital Enterprise has been working to enhance the entrepreneurial eco-system in Sheffield. Funded by the European Regional Development Fund TEAM SY is a collaboration between local authorities, universities, and entrepreneurs to audit and enhance South Yorkshire’s Startup ecosystem.
As a board member, Ben will help Capital Enterprise navigate its post European funding future and look to grow its work across the UK.
John Spindler CEO of Capital Enterprise said “We are delighted to welcome Ben’s energy and experience to the Capital Enterprise Board. Ben has long been a supporter of our work. It will be great to work with him on the expansion of our mission.”
Professor Tony Edwards said “Loughborough University London is proud of the contribution it has made to the London startup scene. Through Ben’s work we have seen pan-London programmes grow nationally and internationally. I am excited by the opportunities for staff and students through the Capital Enterprise network.”