The Enterprise Roll of Honour was established to recognise and celebrate the talents of the University’s alumni who have set up successful businesses.
Sofia de Meyer, (LLB, 1996) is founder of Whitepod, an eco-friendly holiday company that uses igloo-shaped pods situated in the Swiss Alps. At the end of the ski season the pods are dismantled, leaving no trace behind.
Jaya Chakrabarti, (BSc 1993, MSc 1995) is founder and Managing Director of nameless Digital Creatives, an agency specialising in web and digital media. A full service web agency, nameless develops e-commerce, content management and web applications through to offering accessibility, communities and ethical search engine optimisation services.
Chris Jolly, (BSc, 1968) is founder and Managing Director of Jolly Learning Ltd, a publishing company that produces the Jolly Learning range of Jolly Phonics, Jolly Grammar and Jolly Readers. The educational tools are used to help teach children to read and write using the 42 main sounds of the English language, not just the 26 letters of the alphabet. The range is used in schools around the world, including some 80 per cent of UK primary schools.
The three will be added to the University’s Enterprise Roll of Honour, which includes a display containing photographs, signed memorabilia and other interesting information about each of the entrepreneurs. They will joining existing members that include Sahar Hashemi, (LLB 1998) co-founder of Coffee Republic and Mark Ellingham, (BA 1980, Honorary MA 2004) Joint Managing Director of Rough Guides.
Dr Neil Bradshaw, Director of enterprise at the University, said: “We are proud to have inducted three new members onto our Enterprise Roll of Honour. Enterprise at the University continues to go from strength to strength and this induction is just one example of this growth. We are confident that it will remain a tribute to our alumni and an inspiration to future generations of students.”
Jaya Chakrabart said: “I came to Bristol with little life experience and an understanding only of success in academia. When I finally left the University, I emerged with a much healthier perspective on the difference between wisdom and knowledge, and the courage to take my future in my own hands.”
The Enterprise Roll of Honour event was held on Tuesday 17 June at the University of Bristol. The Enterprise Roll of Honour display is situated in the foyer of Senate House, Tyndall Avenue, Clifton, Bristol.