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Bristol enterprise leader named in UK’s top 100

Nick Sturge

Press release issued: 23 February 2016

Bristol business leader Nick Sturge, who runs the University of Bristol’s award-winning SETsquared business incubation centre, has been named in an elite list of Britain’s most successful philanthropists, investors, mentors, advisors and ascending entrepreneurs.

Nick, who is also Director of Engine Shed and the South West regional chairman of the Institute of Directors, is recognised in the 2016 Maserati 100 List for his work as an advisor and mentor.

The list features a high calibre of diverse and vibrant British entrepreneurs, who not only help contribute to the growing UK economy, but also provide much needed support to tomorrow’s business leaders.

Nick has been running the Bristol SETsquared Centre for more than 10 years, providing incubation support to ventures in the centre by building a large community of professional advisors who give their time for free in clinics, workshops and mentoring support.

This has resulted in over 200 companies being supported, who have raised more than £180 million in equity, grant and debt funding between them.

Nick said: "I'm honoured to be in included in this year's selection, among such great people across the country. I think we all have a responsibility to share our experiences with others - be they entrepreneurs, established business leaders or policy makers.

“Working with great colleagues in the SETsquared Partnership has given me a fantastic opportunity to share my experiences and to learn from others, including some of those also listed in the Maserati 100."

The final list was curated by a panel of experts from the Centre for Entrepreneurs (CFE).

Its founder, Luke Johnson, former Chairman of Channel 4 Television and Pizza Express, said: "Entrepreneurs have long been celebrated for their role as job creators - indeed UK entrepreneurs added 700,000 net new jobs in 2014/15 - but their deep commitment to helping others often goes unnoticed. The Maserati 100 exemplifies the economic and social value of entrepreneurs; growing the economy, creating jobs and helping the next generation do the same."

The Maserati 100 search was launched at the end of last year and invited members of the business community to nominate the individuals who they felt should be recognised for their support of the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Further information

About Nick Sturge

After working in a number of small medical electronics companies, Nick joined Inmos, part of the global semiconductor business STMicroelectronics.

He co-founded Motion Media Technology to develop video communication equipment, which was listed on the main market of the London Stock Exchange in 2000, achieving a market valuation of over £270m.

Later that year, Motion Media acquired the old Severn View motorway services at Aust and converted it to office use.

Nick is currently SETsquared Bristol's Director, responsible for business incubation of high-tech, high-growth businesses at the University of Bristol. The Bristol SETsquared Centre won the UKBI Business Incubator of the Year award in 2008 and the Outstanding Contribution to Business Incubation in 2012.

In 2013, Nick oversaw the relocation of SETsquared Bristol into Engine Shed - a refurbishment of Brunel's Grade I listed original station at Bristol Temple Meads which is a unique collaboration between the University and Bristol City Council.

Nick has been chair of the South West Science Park and Incubator Leaders’ Forum and has sat on the boards of several business, charitable and voluntary organisations.

He currently represents the Bristol & Bath area on the TechCityUK Cluster Alliance and is on the advisory Board for Common Purpose South West.

About SETsquared

SETsquared is a long-standing partnership between the universities of Bath, Bristol, Exeter, Southampton and Surrey which specialises in growing high-tech start-ups through its incubation programme and other business acceleration services. SETsquared provides mentoring, access to investors and corporate innovators and a wide range of industry experts through its network and training programmes.

Its business incubation programme is ranked by the University Business Incubator Index as the best in Europe and over the last decade it has helped over 1,000 high-tech start-ups to develop and raise more than a £1bn of investment.

Independent research carried out by Warwick Economics estimates the economic impact of SETsquared member companies to be £3.8bn over this period, with the creation of 9,000 jobs and that these companies will go on to deliver a further £15bn of impact to the UK economy in the decade ahead.

About Bristol SETsquared

The Bristol SETsquared Centre, now located within the Engine Shed in the heart of Bristol's Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone, supports 64 members who between them employ over 840 people globally.

Since 2007, companies supported by Bristol SETsquared have raised over £188 million and an aggregate turnover, in that period, of over £155 million. It has contributed to the success of Engine Shed, which opened in December 2013 and is credited with powering economic growth in Bristol and the West of England, adding £8 million to the local economy in its first year.

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