Bath graduate Jason Malone has been named runner-up in a regional enterprise award.
Jason, who graduated last year in Innovation & Engineering Design, has come second in the alumni category of the Universities South West Enterprise Awards for new technology he has invented for the UK alcoholic drinks market.
His Business, entitled Core & Grove, sprang from time Jason spent working as a barman alongside his university studies, where he spotted the inefficiencies of current alcohol distribution processes.
Siobain Hone, Student Enterprise Coordinator, said: “Jason won last year’s Business Plan competition, organised by BANTER (Bath Entrepreneurs’ Society) and I’m very proud of his success. It’s good to see our student enterprise activities being recognised at a regional level. It should be a great inspiration for students who have entered this year’s competition.”
Speaking at the award ceremony, Professor David Coslett, Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Plymouth said, “Enterprise and entrepreneurship have never been more important to our region and our economy. Entrepreneurs are willing to embrace risk, to try out new ideas and embrace innovative technologies. In today’s economic climate this takes courage and good judgement, but often the best opportunities occur when you least expect them.
“Tonight’s event involves students, alumni and staff from Higher Education Institutions in the South West who have ideas and plans to take forward into viable businesses. I would like to thank the finalists and their support teams who have travelled from all round the region to be with us tonight and I particularly thank the crucial input from the judges. They are all busy people in senior positions and we are grateful for their generous support in reading the plans, interviewing the entrants and giving invaluable feedback and advice to help these budding entrepreneurs move forward with their future plans.”
The judges this year included Nick Buckland OBE, board member of the South West RDA and Jeff Brown, Executive Director of Universities South West (two of the organisations funding the Awards); Ranulf Scarbrough, Chief Scientist for BT Martlesham; Dr Jane Guise, Chief Executive of the Royal Bath and West of England Society; Sandu Hellings, Director of riskHive Ltd, David Embleton, partner at Eden Ventures (UK) Ltd and Martin Coulthard, director of the Bath & Bristol Enterprise Network (BEN), the network for the technology business community in the region.
The competition is part of the Knowledge Escalator South West (KE-SW) programme managed by Universities South West. KE-SW is supported by over £2.3 million of European Regional Development Funding investment through the South West RDA and aims to encourage collaboration and enterprise between universities and business in the region.