Veterans shortlisted for Heropreneurs WBS Bursary Award

Five finalists with a chance of winning a full scholarship to study an MBA have been announced by Warwick Business School and Heropreneurs.

WBS has partnered with Heropreneurs, a charity that supports the business ventures of the Armed Forces community, to offer serving or ex-military personnel, including spouses, the opportunity of a place on one of its world-class MBA programmes, worth up to £64,220.   

The five finalists are: George Christie, a former Captain in the British Army currently working with an international investment bank; Henry Middleton, who served for fourteen years in the British Army and in international development and is now the Chief Operating Officer of a social enterprise empowering local communities in fragile and conflict-affected countries; Isabella Naiduki, a military veteran’s spouse who is a senior transformation analyst with vehicle connected services at Jaguar Land Rover; Joseph Pollard, who started his military career as a Warfare Officer within the Royal Navy and is now transferring his skills to Amazon’s Corporate Military programme; and James Smith, who is Second-in-Command of a Royal Navy warship.     

A panel of judges will assess the final five and the full bursary winner will be announced at the Heropreneurs Awards ceremony being held at the Shard in London on November 13.

Andy Lockett, Dean and Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship, said: “The diversity of experience both in leadership and in innovation of the finalists has been truly impressive.”

“In their willingness to question the status quo and challenge the norm, their applications are rooted in the spirit of the Change Maker – the mindset that we champion here at Warwick Business School.

“I am intrigued and excited to see who will be chosen and what they will bring to the MBA cohort, plus how they will develop once they are on the course.”

The winner of the Warwick Business School Bursary Awards, whether they are starting or developing a business, or transitioning to the next stage of their career in the military or other employment, will receive a 100 per cent bursary to study on one of the prestigious MBA or Executive Diploma programmes.

The runner-up will be awarded a substantial 75 per cent bursary, and the third-place contender will receive a generous 50 per cent bursary.

Warwick Business School has the top Executive MBA in the UK – and the second best globally – for career progression, according to The Financial Times. It has also been ranked second in the world and best in the UK in this year’s Financial Times ranking of the best online MBA programmes. The Full-time MBA at Warwick is ranked sixth in the UK by the Financial Times. The School has also recently launched its Accelerator MBA to help professionals speed up their career progression whilst working. 

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 Tech Business of the Year.  

Heropreneurs Trustee Stuart Nicol said: "Now in its seventh year this Award is a truly positive partnership.

“Warwick Business School is able to find excellent candidates for their education courses from a talented and often overlooked section of society. Heropreneurs members, consisting of serving, veterans and spouses from the Armed Forces community, receive a constructive interview process and the opportunity to receive significant discounts to the WBS courses.

“These courses do a great job in preparing the Heropreneurs to improve their attractiveness to civilian employers and their ability to successfully set up and grow their own business."