Having a community of like-minded student and graduate entrepreneurs provides a supportive environment that allows students to share ideas and resources. It also helps them to better craft their pitches, build confidence and share knowledge to support them on their entrepreneurial journeys.
A number of our graduate entrepreneurs have gone on to achieve great success, creating jobs alongside the University’s Liverpool Interns and Liverpool City Region Grad Scheme programmes, winning awards at national level and gaining funding or investment through organisations like Innovate UK.
The fairer fashion brand
Noura Qusairy (pictured above) (BA Hons International Business 2019, MSc Project Management 2020) won the University Entrepreneurs Grant in the Educate North Awards. Noura is co-founder of Yamama, a social enterprise that aims to transform the fashion industry by introducing a sustainable, ethical and fair fashion brand. Yamama offers female refugee artisans financial independence through their handmade, sustainable clothing and accessories.
Noura and her start-up have been supported through 1:1 innovation coaching and programmes from the University’s Careers and Employability team, received Enterprise Funding and have traded on campus at University events.
The health innovator
Moises Barbera Ramos (pictured above) (MPhys 2020) is an award-winning entrepreneur, enterprise fund recipient and founder of Drill Surgeries, the first start-up to successfully operate in humans without radiation and using Artificial Intelligence only. Moises mission is to challenge the status quo of the long-unchanged medical industry while supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs. He actively mentors student entrepreneurs and his accolade of awards include Entrepreneur of the Year 2022, AI CEO of the Year 2023 national nomination, and he is a 2023 Alumni Award winner. Currently entering his second country, Moises and his start-up are on track to treat 100 million patients by 2030.
The community builder
Lucky Ali (MBioSci 2022) (pictured above) realised her childhood dream in 2022, with the launch of Lucky’s Café+, a family-run café offering traditionally inspired, authentic and homely fresh food. Lucky wanted to breathe new life into her local community, creating a friendly and engaging Community Hub where people can enjoy a meal whilst helping to tackle isolation and loneliness in the local community.
The Community Hub offers free in-house employability skills, such as job-search support, career advice, digital skills support and interview skills. The Hub aims to connect local people with local employers, thereby enhancing the employability in Wirral and supporting the regeneration of Birkenhead. ●
Seeking that missing piece?
The University of Liverpool Careers and Employability service offers a wide range of support for recent graduates and alumni via their Design Your Future platform, which includes a 10-week business development programme, an annual pitching competition worth £10,000 in prizes, and an annual Showcase networking and panel event. The Enterprise Fund offers graduates of up to two years an opportunity to apply for cash funding from £500 - £5,000 to bring an idea to life or develop an existing business. The Green Room also provides an online community of the University’s entrepreneurial students, staff, graduates and alumni to highlight events, share ideas and more. Click the link above for more information
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