Professor Andy Penaluna, a professor of Creative Entrepreneurship at the University of Wales, Trinity Saint David and a director of EEUK, has been recognised for his UK wide contribution to business and enterprise skills by scooping the Enterprise Educators Award at a prestigious awards event at the House of Lords on 23rd October.
The annual awards, hosted by the Institute of Enterprise and Entrepreneurs (IOEE) and the Small Firms Enterprise Development Initiative (SFEDI) bring together key figures from the UK’s small business, enterprise and skills sector to celebrate the very best in enterprise learning and skills.
Andy, who is Professor of Creative Entrepreneurship at the University of Wales, Trinity Saint David (UWTSD), has made enterprise a valuable and significant part of the curriculum with his university being the first in the UK to offer a fully validated PGCE / PCET module in entrepreneurship education.
Andy’s dedication to furthering enterprise in education means he is now working closely with Welsh and UK Governments and advising the European Commission and the United Nations Conference for Trade and Development on enterprise education policy. He has also recently co-authored a report calling for better entrepreneurial skills at all levels of education from primary school through to retirement.
Ruth Lowbridge, Executive Chair of SFEDI and the IOEE said:
"We are delighted to present Andy with this award. It is crucial that enterprise education reaches people across all disciplines and at all stages in their learning if we are going to support our future workforce of enterprising people and business owners. Andy has had considerable success in ensuring enterprise education is embedded into his university's curriculum and influencing and supporting enterprise education across the UK".
Andy Penaluna, who accepted the award at the event, said:
"I am truly honoured to have such recognition for the work I’ve been involved with around enterprise education. Any educator who cares about their students and their careers will have a similar story I’m sure. We move from an age where jobs were secure and business progress had a high degree of certainty, to a world of constant change. Our students need to become more entrepreneurial, our job is to respond and to help ensure that they are able, ready and equipped to deal with the world of work.”