The Chancellor’s Entrepreneurs’ Club is for for students who want to develop the mindset, skills, and networks needed to become future business leaders and innovators.
The Chancellor’s Entrepreneurs’ Club provides an opportunity for University of Derby students who want to develop the mindset, skills, and networks needed to become future business leaders and innovators.
Jointly led by University’s Chancellor, William Cavendish, Earl of Burlington and Visiting Professor of Entrepreneurship Theo Paphitis, the Club brings together ambitious and entrepreneurial students and connects them with some of the UK’s most dynamic innovators and business mentors.
Who is a member already?
Members of the Club include:
- Lauren Schultz – CEO, McDonald’s UK&I
- Evan Hatfield – Senior Head of Europe Education, Amazon Business
- Kevin Alcraft – Retail Operations Lead, Google UK&I
- John Booth – Chair, National Gallery
- Ian Cuddington – Senior Vice-President, Economic Partnerships, Rolls-Royce
What the Club offers
- Exclusive mentoring from industry leaders
- Live business challenges that build real experience
- Skills workshops to develop your ideas and confidence
- Powerful networking opportunities with business partners and alumni
- Opportunities to demonstrate your leadership skills to help you stand out in your career
Who can join?
Membership is limited to ensure a rich and impactful experience. Each year, students from any course can apply through a competitive process. The chosen cohort forms the Club’s core group for that year, working closely with mentors, entrepreneurs and industry partners. There is potential for members to stay in the Club for up to three years after graduating.
Why it matters
The Chancellor’s Entrepreneurs’ Club sits at the heart of Derby’s ambition to nurture creative, pioneering, and entrepreneurial thinkers. The Club aims to:
- Build confidence and practical capability
- Support social mobility by opening elite networks to students from all backgrounds
- Strengthen Derby’s role as a regional hub for innovation and enterprise
- Contribute to wider initiatives in entrepreneurial education across the University
This initiative is part of a broader partnership with Visiting Professor in Entrepreneurship, Theo Paphitis, designed to shape the University of Derby into a national leader in entrepreneurship, creative leadership, and enterprise education.
Application process
Membership of the Chancellor’s Entrepreneurs’ Club is designed to be accessible to ambitious students from any discipline. We’re looking for creativity, drive, and the potential to make an impact. Students should complete the application form, a core part of which is an elevator pitch – a short video outlining why they should be invited to join the Club.