OU student awarded Converge RBS Female Entrepreneurship Award

Open University in Scotland student Laura Ripley has won an award and funding in the prestigious Converge Awards earlier this week.

Laura Ripley from Aberdeenshire, who is studying an Open Degree with the OU, won the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) Female Entrepreneurship Award. Her business Northern Frights is a horror and fantasy events company using props, special effects and skilled actors to create immersive and thriving events in the North of Scotland.

The judges commented: “The judges all agreed that Laura’s resilience and determination to cut through to a largely male dominated niche sector with an ambitious scalable business model showed real entrepreneurial spirit. They have faced and overcome the many challenges that a female founder faces in an underrepresented sector and used this experience to fuel their future ambitions all the while championing and promoting diversity and inclusion – a real role model for their sector for the future and this embodies the spirit behind this award.”

With the award, Laura receives £10,000 to develop her business plus a mentoring session with a senior RBS executive.

Winning student, Laura Ripley, shared:

"I dropped out of school when I was 15 and ended up in a career I hated until my early 30s, so the opportunity to study with The Open University in my 30s gave me the chance to study at home whilst still working. I’ve been able to study subjects related to my business through the open degree such as Design, Business and Creative Writing.

"Receiving this award not only supports my business financially, especially considering the startup expenses from this year, but it also underscores the legitimacy of my unique venture. Contrary to some opinions, my business isn't just an eccentric hobby — it's a genuine, heartfelt pursuit."

Susan Stewart, Director at The Open University in Scotland, said:

“The Open University’s mission is to be open to people, places, methods and ideas, helping our students to realise their ambitions and fulfil their potential. We have an excellent Entrepreneur’s Hub, and I am proud that the OU has been able to support Laura and many others to successfully innovate their ideas. Many congratulations to all the winners and finalists!”

Converge is Scotland’s springboard for university founders and and their annual awards ceremony rewards and celebrates the most exciting innovators emerging from Scotland’s universities. At the 13th edition of the awards ceremony in Glasgow, Converge awarded 16 prizes totalling £320,000 in cash and in-kind business support to Scottish Universities across a number of different categories.

Richard Lochhead, Innovation Minister, said:

"Entrepreneurship and innovation are at the heart of our National Strategy for Economic Transformation, and academia-industry collaboration helps fulfil Scotland’s potential to nurture many more inventive new start-up companies.

“We recently published our National Innovation Strategy which sets out our vision for Scotland to become one of the most innovative small nations in the world over the next decade. The strategy includes how we can support the creation and growth of more university spinouts and innovative businesses and products.“

Dr Claudia Cavalluzzo, executive director at Converge, said:

“Scotland’s universities are truly world-class and this is evident in the achievements and ambition demonstrated by the talented pioneers we’ve recognised at this year’s awards. These founders represent the magic that Scotland needs to realise its ambitions and fulfil its potential as one of the world’s greatest nations of innovators.”

“We look forward to working with our winners and runners-up to take their businesses to the next level and help them to deliver real, tangible impact throughout Scotland and around the world.”

6 October 2023