From Armed Forces to MBA: Meet our 2025 Heropreneurs scholarship winners

Warwick Business School are partnering with Heropreneurs in 2026 to offer transformative scholarships for our prestigious MBA programmes, including a 100% scholarship and significant scholarships for runners-up.

We encourage applications from veterans, reservists, and serving personnel from the British Armed Forces and their families at any stage in their career journey - find out more about how to apply or take a look at our Heropreneurs funding brochure.

In 2025, WBS awarded two 100% scholarships for the first time, due to the exceptional experience and qualities of applicants Nathan Flye and Hugo Mitchell-Heggs. Here, they reflect on the application process and their journey so far.

Nathan Flye - Executive MBA

I submitted my notice to leave the Army in June 2024, unsure of what would come next. I explored consulting roles both in the UK and overseas, but opportunities were limited. At the same time, I had an idea that could form the foundations of my own business - but like many service leavers, I wasn’t yet ready to fully commit to it.

Discovering the Heropreneurs MBA Award

By March 2025, I still hadn’t launched my start‑up and was continuing to look for employment. During my resettlement, I became increasingly aware of my lack of experience in the corporate world and wanted a way to improve both my knowledge and employability.

An MBA felt like an excellent way to address that gap, but the cost was prohibitive. When I saw a LinkedIn post about the Heropreneurs MBA Award, it immediately caught my attention. The potential scholarships available, combined with Warwick Business School’s flexible payment options, removed a significant barrier and made the opportunity feel achievable.

The application process

From start to finish, the application process was brilliant. The team at WBS were mentors, cheerleaders and interviewers rolled into one.

Starting the Executive MBA and launching my start-up

By the time the programme began in September 2025, I had also decided to commit full‑time to my start‑up. Being selected as a recipient of the Heropreneurs scholarship played a huge role in giving me the confidence to back myself and take that step.

For me, the MBA is not just a qualification - it provides the knowledge, frameworks and tools I need to make better decisions in my business. Having now completed 50% of the eight core modules, I can confidently say the MBA has become a key part of my entrepreneurial journey.

Connecting military experience with MBA learning

One of the most interesting realisations has been how closely many of the MBA frameworks align with things I learned in the Armed Forces. In many cases, I’m not learning something entirely new; I’m learning a new language to describe concepts I already understood through experience. Where ideas and tools are new, the academics at WBS are outstanding, making complex subjects accessible and relevant.

The standout highlight for me, though, is the people. I am learning alongside an exceptional group of professionals and entrepreneurs, and I’m continually humbled by their experience, openness and support.

Advice for future applicants

I would strongly encourage other service leavers and veterans to apply for the Heropreneurs Awards. The application process alone helped me reflect positively on my military career and clarify what I wanted to do next. There are more scholarship opportunities available than many people realise, and the learning environment at WBS is genuinely world‑class. If you are considering your next step, I would urge you to put yourself forward.

Hugo Mitchell-Heggs - Part-time MBA (London Accelerator)

I have been fortunate to serve in the Royal Navy for 15 years, leading teams on submarines and later working in human performance across Defence. I have also been involved in building and growing charitable initiatives and Adventure for Social Impact campaigns, as well as professional Business networks (Submariners United in Business). 

The Armed Forces develops extraordinary leadership, resilience and operational capability, but I was increasingly aware that there were gaps in my commercial, financial and strategic knowledge that were difficult to fill from within my day-to-day military roles.

Why I applied

I first discovered the Heropreneurs Award through the Forces Employment Charity.  Undertaking an MBA had always been an aspiration, and I wanted to elevate my career and broaden my understanding of how organisations truly operate, and develop the tools to lead and manage at the next level. An MBA always felt like the right stepping stone to do that, but it was not about just doing any MBA; it was also about finding the right university, so this felt like an amazing opportunity to invest in putting an application in.

What stood out about the scholarship

I had long been interested in further education at MBA-level, but the reality is that MBAs require significant time and financial investment. At this stage of life, with a young family and real responsibilities, that is a big decision. The scholarship removed a very real blocker and created an opportunity that would not otherwise have been available to me at this time in my life.

My experience of the application process

The experience was very positive from start to finish. The team at Warwick Business School clearly explained how to apply, and the online system was straightforward. It allowed me to properly articulate why I should be considered for the scholarship and what I hoped to contribute. The process itself was transparent with sifting stages allowing me to prepare properly for interviews and the presentation element. The WBS staff were friendly and most helpful at every stage of the process.

What winning the award means for my next chapter

Winning the award was huge. It represented an opportunity to develop broader commercial, financial and strategic thinking beyond the operational box I have largely operated in. I hope it will strengthen the capabilities I already have, while filling some or most of the gaps. I’m really looking forward to connecting with different people, different sectors and different ways of thinking.

What I am most looking forward to

I’m starting the Part-time MBA (London Accelerator) in March 2026, and there is an element of not knowing what I do not know, which is exciting. I am genuinely looking forward to just getting stuck in, being pushed outside my comfort zone and learning from exceptional academics (and my course mates). The strategic entrepreneurship and innovation modules in particular stand out. The intersection between leadership, strategy and value creation is an area I am keen to explore more.

What I would say to others thinking of applying

My advice to other service leavers/service personnel is to reflect on the things that we might not realise make us stand out and often take for granted- leading in uncertain high-risk environments, wearing responsibility, building teams, delivering under pressure, a sense of humour in the face of adversity. Translating all that into a civilian application can feel uncomfortable but can shape a really authentic application.

At the same time, be honest about where you have gaps. Articulate clearly what you will gain, why it’s important for YOU to be selected for this scholarship and if successful how you might intend to use your new unlocked potential, especially if it leads to positive social impact.

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