Two teams of Salford Business School (SBS) students have secured places at the Young Enterprise North West Final, after impressing judges with their entrepreneurial ambition and innovation at the L5 Young Enterprise Final held in December.
The Young Enterprise competition recognises and rewards student entrepreneurs who are developing impactful business concepts rooted in sustainability, inclusion and real-world problem solving. Teams pitch their ideas to a panel of industry judges for a chance to progress through the regional, national and European stages of the competition.
At the December final, students pitched their business ideas to a panel of industry judges from Aviva, Nestlé and KPMG, with awards presented by SBS Dean, Professor Katy Mason. Following a highly competitive event, two teams – MindM8 and Carbone – were selected to progress to the North West Final, where they will compete for a place at the UK National Final later this year.
This year’s progressing teams have demonstrated a strong commitment to responsible and sustainable enterprise, reflecting the School’s continued focus on embedding entrepreneurship, ethical leadership and sustainability across its teaching and learning.
Team MindM8, made up of students Christopher Lam, Hafiz Zafar, Muhammad Husnain Chaudhry, Tommi Mäkelä and Qalb Syed, were named Best Overall Winning Team for their venture supporting people with visual impairments to live more independently.
The team developed an alternative design to traditional glasses, combining aesthetic design with functionality. Their product is produced using recycled plastics, helping to reduce plastic waste while offering users a practical and inclusive solution.
They were mentored by Ruth Endacott, EV Advisory Director of Life’s Echo, a company that aims to help companies meet the government’s aim to transition from petrol to electric vehicles.
Qalb Syed – award presented by Professor Katy Mason.
Christopher Lam, one of the entrepreneurs behind MindM8, said: “We are both excited and surprised to be progressing to the North West final as there had been a variety of creative and meaningful enterprises that other teams established within our cohort.
“It’s been an incredibly humbling experience, knowing that the past 13 weeks of input and effort has won over the judges!”
Salford’s second progressing team, Carborne, consists of students Jake Parkinson, Roberts Dislers, Desmond Mbata and Miracle Owolabi. The team pitched a portable, stick-on spout designed to filter and polish the taste of tap water.
The product, made from recyclable materials, uses a multi-stage filtration process to remove impurities while maintaining environmental responsibility. The judges recognised the venture’s strong sustainability credentials, awarding Carbone the Best Overall Sustainability Award.
They were mentored by Matthew Rose, Executive Director at TankSafeUK, a company that provides anti-theft and spillage loss prevention fuel tanks.
Desmond Mbata, one of the entrepreneurs in the team, said: “This experience has helped me acknowledge that opportunities and innovation are more than people think.
“It’s about being attentive to detail, brainstorming with the right circle of people, and having good mentors to guide you along the way.”
The L5 Young Enterprise Final also saw Jessica Fairfield, BSc Business Management with Entrepreneurship student, awarded with Inaugural SBS Student of the Year, an amazing achievement for the young entrepreneur.
Dr Jonathan Owens, Senior Lecturer in Operations Management and Placement Lead at SBS, commented: “The Young Enterprise awards afternoon was a proud celebration of entrepreneurial talent, creativity, innovation, and sustainability demonstrated by our Level 5 Business students.
“Watching our students showcase such high-quality, enterprising ideas was truly inspiring and a powerful reminder of their passion, drive, and commitment to building responsible, forward-thinking businesses. Their energy and ambition mark them as the next generation of entrepreneurs, and in every way, everyone was a winner!”
The Young Enterprise North West Final will take place on 25 February 2026 at Sister, Manchester.