Ollie was honoured with the Visiting Industrial Fellowship due to his continued work with Aston’s Business School in recognition of the significant contributions he’s made to the University’s awareness, experience and understanding of entrepreneurship and business growth.

The 10,000 Small Businesses programme is a scheme designed to provide support to high growth SMEs across the UK and the two-year fellowship is awarded to exceptional graduates of the programme. Ollie has provided invaluable insight and shared his expertise with Aston University by supporting students, staff and research across a broad range of programmes and projects to include representing SMEs, contributing to Lord Young’s ‘Small Business Charter’ and Lord Heseltine’s recent ‘No Stone Unturned’ report.

An entrepreneur and successful businessman, Ollie’s committed, ongoing support has nurtured links between local businesses and Aston Business School. Now, Ollie sits on the Association of Business Schools’ Small Business Charter Executive Group, shaping policy.

We caught up with Ollie shortly after he received his award:

‘I am absolutely delighted to receive this prestigious honour from Aston. It’s been a privilege to contribute to the growing discussion surrounding the critical importance of supporting local businesses. Aston Business School and its students are helping to unlock the huge potential within the region’s business community and I very much look forward to deepening the already rich relationship between Aston and IE.’

The fellowship joins a busy January for Ollie as he recently held a branding seminar at the AGCAS Heads of Service Conference in Glasgow for Heads of University Careers teams, and he is presently preparing to speak at CHASE 2014.