An inspirational Loughborough College lecturer got more than he bargained for when he turned up for a meeting and left with an unexpected and prestigious award.
Iqbal Ullah, who teaches business management in the College’s Higher Education Centre, thought he was attending a scheduled meeting at Young Enterprise East Midlands of which he is a Trustee.
Instead, he was handed the charity’s prestigious Debbie Bestwick Award in recognition of his tireless work and enthusiasm in supporting students to participate in the charity’s Start Up programme at Loughborough College.
Iqbal was praised for his “inspirational leadership, legendary enthusiasm and generous spirit” which has helped College students win the last two UK Young Enterprise competition and represent the UK in European finals.
Iqbal said: “I’m truly humbled to receive this award. It is usually given to volunteers and contributors who have supported Young Enterprise through years of dedication. I am certain there were more deserving candidates, but I am so proud to have been considered.
“I feel so privileged to be doing something I love and for being supported by College to do that. Nothing gives me greater pleasure than supporting students to explore their creativity and develop their business ideas and I hope to be doing this for years to come.”
Young Enterprise East Midlands said in its award citation that Iqbal won the award for “being extremely inspirational, motivational, supportive, consistently well-planned and organised with your students”.
Sharon Davies, CEO of Young Enterprise, explained that the Debbie Bestwick Award recognised people who embody the principles of commitment to young people and young enterprise and who is inspirational.
She said in a letter to Iqbal: “You embody that through your inspirational leadership, legendary enthusiasm and generous spirit which has once again allowed the teams you are working with to thrive and for the young people taking part in the programme to develop the enterprising mindset they will need in order to not only navigate, but succeed, in the changing world of work.”