In February, Salford Business School students celebrated multiple successes at the Young Enterprise North West Regional Final, held at Sister, Manchester, with one team progressing to the UK Finals and individual achievements recognised across the competition.
The Young Enterprise competition recognises and rewards student entrepreneurs developing innovative business ideas that tackle real-world challenges. Teams pitch their concepts to industry judges for the opportunity to progress through regional, national and European stages of the competition.
University of Salford students Robert Dislers, Desmond Mbata and Romeo Voda who are Business Start-Up team Carborne, were named North-West Regional Runners-Up and will now progress to the UK Finals on May 20th at Manchester Metropolitan University Business School.
Carborne developed a portable, stick-on spout designed to filter and improve the taste of tap water. Made using recyclable materials, the product uses a multi-stage filtration process to remove impurities while supporting more sustainable everyday water consumption. The team impressed judges with their innovative concept and strong entrepreneurial approach.
On securing a place at the UK Finals, Desmond Mbata said: “The best aspect of the experience was the opportunity given to all attendees to network, for teams to present their business ideas and to gain all sorts of insights and constructive feedback about their business. I didn’t expect us to go through to the finals, but I’ve seen it as an opportunity to improve and gain more experience in the business field.”
Alongside the team’s success, Robert Dislers was also recognised individually, receiving the prestigious 2026 Student of the Year award for his contribution to the programme and commitment to developing his entrepreneurial skills.
Reflecting on the achievement, Robert said: “When I was announced as Student of the Year, I felt a deep sense of gratitude and disbelief. It gave me the chance to reflect on the hard work and collaborative effort that went into the journey. It was a really proud moment for me and a reminder of the growth and commitment that the programme demands.
“Being part of Carborne has also strengthened my confidence in decision-making, communication and leadership, and I would encourage other students to fully commit to the experience.”
Another highlight of the evening saw final year Business Management student Johnny Seddon selected as co-host for the North West Regional Final – a significant honour and a reflection of his continued involvement with the programme following his own success in last year’s competition.
Reflecting on the experience, Johnny said: “It meant a lot to me. I felt excited, proud and definitely a bit nervous representing both a major organisation and the University, but overall it was a real privilege to be trusted with that role.”
From his perspective on the evening, Johnny added: “The level of innovation really stood out. Every team brought strong, well thought through ideas that tackled real world problems. There genuinely wasn’t a weak concept in the room.”
Sharing advice for students hoping to take on similar leadership roles, he said: “Persistence is key and you have to back yourself. Staying involved in Young Enterprise opened doors for me. A quote I recently came across from Marcus Auerlius sums it up well: ‘The impediment to action advances action.’ Challenges are often the very thing that move you forward.”
Johnny will also go on to host the Young Enterprise Programme Finals at Cardiff University in June, marking another milestone achievement as he prepares to graduate this year.
Dr Jonathan Owens, Senior Lecturer in Operations Management and Young Enterprise Lead for the University, said: “It was a fantastic evening celebrating the creativity, ambition and entrepreneurial talent of our students. To see Carborne progress to the UK Finals, Robert recognised as Student of the Year and Johnny representing the University as host demonstrates the incredible opportunities the Young Enterprise programme provides.
“We are incredibly proud of everything our students have achieved and the professionalism, confidence and innovation they continue to demonstrate through the competition.”
The UK Young Enterprise Finals will take place in May.