Heropreneurs

Heropreneurs: Supporting the business ventures or innovative projects of members of the military community

Five members of the military community are in with a chance of winning a free place on one of Warwick Business School’s world-class MBA programmes.

In partnership with Heropreneurs, a mentoring programme delivered by the Forces Employment Charity, WBS is offering serving or ex-military personnel, reservists and their family members the opportunity to win a full scholarship for one of its courses worth up to £69,980.

The WBS Award, which will be presented at the Heropreneurs Awards ceremony on November 3, aims to support the business ventures or innovative projects of members of the military community, providing them with the tools and knowledge needed for the next stage of their career.  

The five finalists are:

  • Nathan Flye, a former British Army Officer, who has started up a UK defence technology firm delivering resilient fibre-optic communication systems
  • Oliver Irvine, a Royal Navy Officer with extensive experience in digital transformation projects and military aviation
  • Claudine Martin, who after a 17-year career in the British Army and representing the UK at the Invictus Games in 2023, is now a Senior Executive Assistant at a major financial services firm
  • Hugo Mitchell-Heggs MBE, a Royal Navy Marine Engineering Officer Submariner who led a team of Royal Navy submariners to row across the Atlantic Ocean in 2019 and 2022
  • Ian Powell, a former officer in the Royal Marines who now specialises in emerging technologies, artificial intelligence and regulatory risk at an international law firm in London.

A panel of judges will assess the shortlisted five, and the full scholarship winner will be announced at the Heropreneurs Awards ceremony, to be held at WBS London at The Shard.

Andy Lockett, Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship, and Dean of WBS, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Heropreneurs for the eighth consecutive year.

“Once again, the men and women who have made it to the final of the WBS Award are people who bring with them the sense of leadership, the aptitude for innovation and the sheer determination that is so typical of our MBA cohorts.

“We build on that spirit at Warwick Business School, providing the latest business thinking and research, and helping our students to turn their bold ideas into real-world impact.”

MBA programmes

The award offers a 100 per cent scholarship for the winner, with significant awards for runners-up.

These scholarships can be used for any of the School’s MBA programmes, including the Global Online MBA, which has been ranked second in the UK and third in the world in the Financial Times’ Global Online MBA ranking, and the Executive MBA, rated sixth in Europe and 10th in the world by higher education analysts QS. Another option is the Accelerator MBA, a two-year part-time course that blends face-to-face teaching with online modules to fit around aspiring leaders’ careers.

The Heropreneurs scholarship has been a transformative opportunity for many, including last year’s winner, Mike Wilmot, who wanted to use the MBA to shape his work at a defence AI company.

The Armed Forces veteran, who served in Afghanistan and set a Guinness World Record for the highest game of tag rugby ever played while climbing Mount Everest, won a 100 per cent scholarship to study for an Executive MBA at WBS London at The Shard.

The annual Heropreneurs Awards night this November will also honour achievements in other categories including Heropreneur of the Year, Start-up of the Year, Product of the Year and Technology Business of the Year.

Heropreneurs Lead at the Forces Employment Charity, Victoria Greenhalgh, said: “Every year, we’re inspired by the depth of drive and ambition that exists within the military business community. This year’s finalists are no exception.

“Our partnership with Warwick Business School is a vital part of how we support those entrepreneurial ambitions, offering individuals the insight, tools and support to take their ideas further. We’re proud to work with WBS and grateful for their continued commitment to backing veteran-led innovation.”

Discover more about the School’s Change Makers.