Student entrepreneurs are flourishing at ARU
New national data places Anglia Ruskin first in East of England for start-up companies
The Helmore building at ARU's East Road campus in Cambridge
Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) is one of the leading institutions for student start-up companies in the country, according to new data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).
A total of 123 ventures were formed by ARU students in the latest reporting period of 2023/24, placing Anglia Ruskin seventh in the UK and top across all universities in the East of England.
ARU’s Anglia Ruskin Enterprise Academy helps entrepreneurial students and recent graduates through a diverse range of support programmes, activities, opportunities, and events.
Last year, ARU became the first UK university to receive the prestigious Entrepreneurial University Award from the National Centre for Entrepreneurship in Education (NCEE).
“At ARU we make every effort to help all our students discover and explore entrepreneurship, regardless of their background or what or where they might be studying. We aim to help them develop the mindset and skills to get them started on their own personal entrepreneurial journeys and career paths.
“Starting your own business can seem daunting, but we are fortunate to have students full of ideas and ambitions. In return, we offer them the support and guidance they need to help turn their dreams into reality and make a difference.”
Professor Gary Packham, Pro Vice Chancellor for Student Enterprise and Entrepreneurship at ARUAmong the recent start-ups is The Community Classroom CIC, founded by Nirvana Yarger, a graduate from the Distance Learning MA Education with Montessori course. The social enterprise offers accessible and inclusive educational opportunities for home-educated children, helping families who need an alternative to mainstream education.
“While teaching in a mainstream primary school, I always felt that the National Curriculum and mainstream school approach did not provide the best outcomes for many children.
“I never lost my desire to be an educator. While completing my MA at ARU, I gained a deeper understanding of home education and the reasons families choose to deregister their children from school.
“I was fortunate to be chosen for the ARU Social Value Fund and I learned the fundamentals of business planning, including forecasting and market research. I was eventually awarded a £5,000 grant to launch The Community Classroom. We would not be where we are today without ARU’s support.”
Nirvana Yarger, who is a former teacherCosmin Diaconu, based in Cambridge, founded sustainable fashion company RetroGusto after graduating from ARU, and has built a collaborative network, involving ARU graduates from various disciplines, including graphic design, interior design, and marketing, all united by their passion for sustainability and independent businesses.
Cosmin’s participation in ARU’s ThinkBigARU pitching competition last year helped him secure valuable partnerships, and his work has since featured in publications such as Varsity, Velvet Magazine, and GAY45, reflecting his commitment to diverse representation in fashion.
“The Anglia Ruskin Enterprise Academy gave me the support and tools to grow my business with more clarity and confidence.
“The feedback from the pitch competition was invaluable, and their seminars offered practical insights from successful entrepreneurs that continue to shape how I develop my brand and practice.”
BA (Hons) Fashion Design graduate Cosmin Diaconu