Chancellor’s Entrepreneurs’ Club

The Chancellor’s Entrepreneurs’ Club provides a unique opportunity for University of Derby students and recent graduates to develop the mindset, skills, and professional networks needed to become future business leaders and innovators.

Jointly led by the University's Chancellor, William Cavendish, Earl of Burlington, and Visiting Professor of Entrepreneurship, Theo Paphitis, the Club connects ambitious students with some of the UK’s most dynamic innovators and business mentors.

Discover the Chancellor's Entrepreneurs' Club

Hear directly from William Cavendish, Earl of Burlington, and Theo Paphitis as they share the vision and purpose of the Chancellor’s Entrepreneurs’ Club.

Who is a member already?

Members of the Club include senior leaders from globally recognised organisations, such as:

• Kevin Alcraft – Retail Operations Lead, Google UK&I
• Gordan Bennett – Managing Director, Utility Markets and Global Head, Environmental Markets, ICE Futures Europe
• John Booth – Chair, National Gallery
• Ian Cuddington – Senior Vice-President, Economic Partnerships, Rolls-Royce
• Evan Hatfield – Senior Head of Europe Education, Amazon Business
• Darren Leigh – CEO, Unipart
• Lauren Schultz – CEO, McDonald’s UK&I

What the Club offers

• Exclusive mentoring from industry leaders
• Live business challenges that build real-world 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. As part of the University’s Three‑Year Promise, the Club is also open to recent graduates for up to three years after graduation. The chosen cohort forms the Club’s core group for that year, working closely with mentors, entrepreneurs and industry partners.

Why it matters

The Chancellor’s Entrepreneurs’ Club sits at the heart of Derby’s ambition to nurture creative, pioneering and entrepreneurial thinkers. Through the Club, we aim 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 are looking for creativity, drive, and the potential to make an impact. Students should complete the application form in UniHub, a core part of which is an elevator pitch – a short video outlining why they should be invited to join the Club.

If you have any questions about the Club or the application process, please email us at development@derby.ac.uk.