Graduates and local businesses celebrate success at University of Hertfordshire’s business awards
The event by the University of Hertfordshire’s Business School brought together recent graduates from the Class of 2025 and a wide network of business, industry and employer partners – including Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce, DVL Smith, Rothamsted Enterprises, Sage, and St Albans City & District Council – to recognise the School’s highest achievers during a graduation-style ceremony.
Dean of Hertfordshire Business School, Professor Damian Ward, said:
“The Awards bring together graduates with strong progression outcomes, external partners offering opportunities to our graduates, and academic teams who encourage students to partner with businesses on live client projects within their degree studies.
“They showcase our academic excellence, our curriculum innovation, and our inspiring high-performing students and recent alumni.
“We also take the opportunity to recognise the valuable contribution our partners bring through their engagement with us, our students and alumni and with our curriculum itself. Working with them is an integral part of how we devise our programmes.
“These Awards are truly a combined business partner and student success celebration.”
Over 300 of the School’s community attended the Dean’s Awards and networking event, including students, alumni, staff and Advisory Board members. Winners received a framed certificate, a professional photograph, and a moment on stage to commemorate their achievement.
One of the student winners was Chandrika Kanda, studying for a Master’s in International Business, who was awarded a Postgraduate Business School Resilience Award which recognises a student who has faced challenges far greater than those normally expected and has overcome them to gain success. Chandrika said:
“This recognition truly means a lot to me. It reflects the challenges I’ve overcome, the persistence I’ve shown, and the commitment I bring to my studies, work, and personal growth. This past year hasn’t been easy, but I’ve learned to keep going, stay positive, and show up even when things feel difficult. Receiving this award is a meaningful reminder that hard work, consistency, and perseverance really do make a difference.”
The Dean’s Enterprise Business Partner of the Year Award was shared by Enterprise Mobility and Malaysia Airlines. Monica Fowler, Talent Acquisition Marketing Professional at Enterprise Mobility said:
“It was humbling for Enterprise Mobility to receive the ‘Dean’s Business Partner of the Year Award 2025'. It recognises our continued commitment to supporting students as well as our active role within the HBS Advisory Group helping shape curriculum design and innovation to further prepare students for the world of work. This was such a wonderful surprise and truly honoured to have received the recognition on such a big night, where it was fantastic to see such strong collaboration between education, business and industry which is truly exemplary.”
Other business partners to receive awards included MBDA which received the Dean’s Degree Apprentice Business Partner Award for its genuine dedication to developing future talent, offering exceptional opportunities for apprentices, championing the value and benefit of degree apprenticeships and for consistently working effectively with Herts to nurture future talent and in providing an inspiring example for other employers.
Incisive Media won the Dean’s Award for Placement Business Partner, for its commitment to student development. Incisive Media provided two undergraduate students with valuable industry experience and mentorship and continued to support graduates by offering full-time roles and demonstrating a strong commitment to developing talent.
During 2025 Hertfordshire Business School produced over 4,500 graduates. It was recently reaccredited to the Small Business Charter.
A full list of awards and recipients can be found on our Dean's Award page
Learn more about studying business at Herts.