Spark Impact
Report 2025

Held at Weetwood Hall in Headingley, the Scholars were put through their paces with a packed and intensive programme of presentations, talks and practical sessions on topics ranging from finance, law, business planning, intellectual property and market research to branding, marketing and pitching. The sessions are delivered by Spark's extensive network of expert professional services advisors plus alumni Enterprise Scholars who take time out of their own successful businesses to support the next generation of entrepreneurial students.

Speaking at the Bootcamp dinner, Spark's Head of Business Start-up, Kairen Skelley addressed the Scholars, saying

Molly Newham (23) is in her first year of a part time MA in Fine Art.  She was awarded an Enterprise Scholarship for her social enterprise, the Mandy Apple Collective - a contemporary gallery space in her hometown of Scarborough that will champion emerging artists from the North, offering opportunities to those with less access to the creative arts. Mandy Apple has been operating as a pop-up creative space since June 2023 and Molly intends to develop a more established business venture through Spark's enterprise support.

Adam Dawson is in the final year of his Civil and Environmental Engineering (industrial) and his Scholarship will enable him to progress his sustainable packaging idea, Tin-Kan, which uses metal cans as a premium alternative to cardboard or plastic packaging and which can be repurposed after use.

In addition to her win in the Trading category, Jade also won an additional special recognition Limehouse Award, selected by Limehouse founder (and former business plan competition winner), Nick Howard.  Jade will put her total prize money towards the kit she's been working so hard to afford.

Winner of the Pre-Trading Category is first year international business student Fritz Heinzle (19), from California, USA.

A semi-professional ice hockey player, Fritz joined Leeds Knights 2 ice hockey team and volunteers as a coach for the younger players. Noting the relative lack of training facilities such as those he used back in the US, his hugely ambitious business idea is to open an off-ice hockey training facility to practice core skills. The facility will use artificial ice tiles (which allow the puck to glide easily over the surface), enabling players to improve stick handling, shooting and passing – all of the technical elements that come with ice hockey without the skating.

The tipping point for Fritz's plans becoming reality is partly finding the right location to house the training facility and also securing a large chunk of investment.  But he's already onto that: “I've lined up some potential investors to talk to from back home in the US through connections, so we'll see how things go!” he says.  In the meantime, Fritz is saving his £2,000 cash prize to help out with his venture's finances.

The new University strategy for student enterprise incorporates Discover, Learn, Launch.

Where Learn is the academic teaching of enterprise across campus, Launch is the offering from Spark on business start-up and incubation. Discover is the newest element of the strategy and brings many different entry points for students at all stages and from every faculty to be involved in some enterprise activity.

From sector specific mini-business bootcamps in faculties (short sessions incorporating idea generation, validation, business planning and pitching) to our business simulation competition, students can get a taster for doing enterprise and learning new skills, something that will help them in their future careers, whether as an employee or as a business owner. Discover also aims to bring networks together to inform, educate and support staff who have an interest in enterprise. This mindset programme will see the introduction of an Enterprise Champions project, people from academic and non-academic positions who can influence, inform and signpost students towards the resources available to them.

Prince William's project, The Earthshot Prize, charges entrepreneurs to tackle 5 global challenges which affect our planet.

We launched the Earthshot Entrepreneurs Club where students, staff and business owners can come together to discuss, agree, or challenge the 5 areas with the intention of collaborating on an agreed project which can be entered into the global Earthshot Prize, the winner of which receives £1m in each of the 5 areas.

The 5 areas are reviving the oceans, building a waste-free world, protecting and restoring nature, cleaning our air, and fixing our climate.

The Leeds Venture Competition was piloted in 2023 and is open to any current student at the University of Leeds. This includes Undergraduates, Masters and PhDs.

The challenge uses Simventure “Evolution” software and allows students to work individually or in teams on a business simulation for one week in an initial round. At the end of the week, the leaderboard highlights the top 8 positions in terms of company valuation and profitability. They are invited to a finals day in the Helix Enterprise Zone where they would operate a different simulation, making strategic business decisions and competing head to head.

The simulation challenge runs both in the first semester in November and again in the second semester in March and to date we have seen around 150 students participating. Legacy funding for the prizes has allowed Spark to reward the winners not just with a cash prize, but also to recognise the presentation, leadership, problem solving and team building skills that are at the core of Discover student enterprise at the University.

Every two months, Spark organises Entrepreneurs Exchange, an event which brings together our young entrepreneurs to a round table to discuss their issues, problems, good news stories and successes.

It is a great forum to hear from other business owners and share best practice and commercial opportunities. Guest speakers from the alumni donor community and Spark alumni businesses bring an added element of learning about the reality of the commercial world and the relaxed feel of the meeting means that everyone is welcome and included.

Entrepreneurs Exchange is a fabulous opportunity for alumni entrepreneurs to give back to the University and truly engage with the business leaders of the future.

Thomas Transition Programme – Reach for Excellence Summer School

Spark delivered an interactive workshop for Year 11 students taking part in this residential programme, run by the Contextual Outreach Team. The session introduced enterprise in an engaging and practical way, helping students see how university can support not only their studies, but their ideas. 

Social Sciences Summer School 

Spark joined a student life carousel aimed at Year 12 pupils exploring their next steps. It was a chance to show that enterprise is part of everyday student life at Leeds, whatever subject you study.

University Innovation Module  

Spark helped support this cross-faculty module where final year students developed ideas in response to real world challenges from external partners. Spark took part in judging the final pitches alongside IBM, NHS, Leeds City Council and others, and funded the prize awarded to the most impactful team. 

These activities delivered significant outcomes

• Raised aspirations among school age students, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds, by showcasing accessible pathways into university and enterprise.
• Promoted entrepreneurship as a key aspect of student life at Leeds.
• Strengthened strategic partnerships across faculties, industry and university services. 
• Recognised and rewarded innovation by investing in student development through prize funding. 

Jen McHale, Contextual Outreach Team says:

In 2025, Spark played a growing role in widening participation and driving innovation across the University. By delivering workshops, supporting outreach and celebrating student achievement, Spark continues to build an inclusive environment where enterprise is part of the journey for all, whatever a student's background, subject or ambition. 

Nick graduated from the University of Leeds in 2002 with a BA in Theatre Acting.

Following five years working in broadcast TV production, Nick decided he wanted to lead his own creative agency, and reached out to Spark, the University’s business startup support service.

After winning both a Proof of Concept grant from Spark in late 2007, and then Spark’s annual Business Plan Competition in early 2008, Nick founded Limehouse, now one of the UK’s leading production companies for corporate film, animation and digital learning.

Fast forward 17 years, and Limehouse works with some of the world’s best-known brands and the UK’s biggest organisations. The agency has been recognised with a place on the UK Top 50 - a list of the country’s biggest and best production companies - and recently produced Games of Thrones star Kit Harrington’s directorial debut film.

Nick has remained an active supporter of - and big advocate for - Spark, volunteering as a judge for the Business Plan Competition, leading workshops, and generously funding the annual Limehouse Recognition Award.