All good things come to an end...
In 2009, twelve ambitious enterprise society presidents embarked on a mission to empower the next generation of student entrepreneurs from higher education institutions across the UK. Since then, our work has ranged from championing entrepreneurial spirit amongst the student population, bringing together thousands of young people annually, to represent student voices amongst policy makers and celebrating student entrepreneurs with a passion for innovation.
Today, the landscape and support available to student entrepreneurs is vastly different. Universities across the UK now have dedicated centres, programmes, and initiatives to support student entrepreneurs and those with an active interest in entrepreneurship. The strength of ‘student-led’ initiatives has been widely recognised by educators, resulting in increased collaboration between societies and institutions year on year.
As a result, after more than a decade and a half of making a real difference within the ecosystem, we’re proud to say that our mission has been fulfilled. As such, we’ve made the difficult decision to close NACUE. While this chapter is ending, we are proud to have played a significant part in the extraordinary progress in student entrepreneurship over the years.
As a charitable organisation, we would like to thank everyone who has been involved over the years, from students and graduates to our corporate partners, colleagues and the hundreds of volunteers that have supported us through our journey. Your contributions have been incredible and, as a result, NACUE has achieved more than we could have ever envisaged!
Tata Varsity Pitch Competition
Our competition for student entrepreneurs ran successfully for 15 years, growing to become the Tata Varsity Pitch, powered by NACUE, which has seen over 2,250 amazing student business ideas apply and produced fifteen extraordinary entrepreneurial winners
Though NACUE will no longer be delivering the competition, we’re excited to share that the Tata Varsity Pitch Competition will continue with The Centre for Entrepreneurs (CfE) taking forward the delivery of the programme. If you’re keen to take part in the Tata Varsity Pitch Competition 2025 then head over to the TVP2025 page, to find out the full details, including eligibility and application process. All the key elements that have made the programme such a success in the past will continue, with the competition open to all UK-based students and recent graduates. There will be an expanded programme of activity supporting universities and more engagement with alumni, and we are delighted to see Varsity Pitch adapt and grow as part of NACUE’s legacy. CfE and NACUE share a great deal of DNA in their staff and objectives, and we know the programme will be in good hands.
NACUE wants to extend its deepest thanks to Tata Ltd, whose unwavering support over the years has helped bring our mission to life and succeed. Their belief in our mission and commitment to ‘Powering the Enterprising Generation’ plus support of student entrepreneurship have made a meaningful difference to many thousands of young people across the UK.
As we wrap up operations, we do so with deep gratitude, knowing the legacy of our work will continue through the communities we've empowered over the last 16 years.
Thank you for being part of this journey and helping us make a difference!