The Peter Jones Enterprise Academy graduation ceremony at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall, delivered yesterday by Seven Hills, saw an 18-year-old student from Chichester College named National Entrepreneur of the Year.

Seven Hills is supporting the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy, which is building a nationwide network of colleges and providers to transform attitudes to entrepreneurship and enterprise education.

Dragons’ Den entrepreneur Peter Jones CBE presented Rob Nunn with the highest accolade during the ceremony, which was supported by Gazelle, and commented:

“Rob was simply outstanding. He has the whole package that we were looking for in our candidate for National Entrepreneur of the Year. He has superb presence, an outstanding commitment to the Academy and a driving ambition to succeed in his own entrepreneurial endeavours.

“We were hugely impressed by the talent and ambition among this year’s graduates of the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy. They represent a new generation of young entrepreneurs with the passion, self-belief and go-getting attitudes to achieve their entrepreneurial dreams.”

During his time at the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy, Rob impressed his course leaders by successfully securing mentoring and investment from local businesses to launch a social enterprise Youth Aviation Fund.  The fund provides opportunities for young people to learn how to fly and start their career as a pilot.

The National Entrepreneur of the Year Award is sponsored by Alfa Romeo and ingenie.com – the car insurance provider for 17-25 year olds. At the graduation ceremony, which was supported by Gazelle, Rob was awarded a brand new Alfa Romeo MiTo TwinAir for 12 months.

Rob will be one of the first people in the UK to drive the new low-emissions, Twin Air version of the Alfa MiTo and he will be fully insured thanks to ingenie. But there is one catch – Rob is yet to pass his driving test, therefore the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy is including a series of driving lessons to help him get his hands on the wheel.

Speaking at the ceremony was Britain’s Got Talent finalist Beth Smith, a member of synchronised swimming group Aquabatique.  Beth was graduating from Solihull College and reflected on her time at the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy in her address.

Founded by entrepreneur Peter Jones CBE, the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy has a mission to train and motivate young people, unleash entrepreneurial talent and create opportunities for young people to realise their potential.

Beth Smith of Aquabatique gives her address at the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy graduation