University leader honoured twice in the Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion 2014

The University of Northampton are proud to announce that Wray Irwin, Head of the University’s Centre for Employability and Engagement has been awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion 2014. Her Majesty The Queen graciously approved the Prime Minister’s recommendation that Wray should also receive a Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Queen’s Awards to Enterprise are the UK’s most prestigious awards, given only to companies or individuals who are outstanding in their field.

Wray received the awards in recognition of his work over the last 20 years inspiring people to become more entrepreneurial and to set up sustainable enterprises or cooperatives.  His work with communities has been designed to develop and encourage them to take ownership and run their own community facilities as viable businesses for the benefit of local people, creating a positive social impact.

Since 2000 Wray has directly established and supported over 100 community enterprises designed to address social disadvantage including: homelessness; drug abuse; mental illness; and youth unemployment.

Wray was also instrumental in the establishment of the University of Northampton’s credit union for staff and students.

Speaking about this honour, Wray said: “I am extremely proud to have been awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion and the Lifetime Achievement Award. I am looking forward to visiting Buckingham Palace to meet Her Majesty and receive the award.

“I believe that working with people to identify an entrepreneurial way to influence or solve a social issue can have a wide reaching positive impact. Over the years, I have been lucky to have worked with really inspirational people who have developed innovative solutions to social problems. More recently supporting students of the University such as Suzi Rees who has created a social enterprise, iDID Adventure, which supports adults with disabilities to build resilience through adventure sports.”

Wray will receive his award at Buckingham Palace on Monday 14 July 2014.