27-year-old entrepreneur Rajeeb Dey, founder of Enternships, has been honoured with the Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion.
The Award bestowed by HM The Queen on advice of the Prime Minister to up to ten individuals recognises those who have played an important role in promoting enterprise skills and supporting entrepreneurs.
Having worked tirelessly to inspire young people to pursue entrepreneurial career paths and tackling youth unemployment in the UK over the past nine years, Dey is amongst the youngest honourees in this year’s list.
The Award is in recognition of Dey’s ongoing work in supporting students, graduates and young entrepreneurs through initiatives such as his graduate recruitment platform Enternships.com, establishing Student Voice – working to empower school students as well as being a Co-Founder of StartUp Britain – the national campaign for entrepreneurship which was launched by the Prime Minister in March 2011. He was also recognised for his various voluntary roles such as Trustee of UnLtd – the Foundation for Social Entrepreneurs and the Phoenix Education Trust.
Upon learning of the Award, Dey said “It is an absolute honour to receive such a prestigious award. At a time of unprecedented levels of youth unemployment it’s essential we all play our part in supporting young people in seeing entrepreneurship as a viable and rewarding career path. Through Enternships we have been able to connect students to entrepreneurial internships in thousands of businesses, many of whom have gone on to launch their own ventures.
To be acknowledged by Her Majesty for my work in this arena is testament to the fact that young people in the UK are more than able to make a difference to the future of the British economy. We’re in the midst of a movement that sees young people not just taking a job but making a job, and I am proud to count myself a part of that.
Dey will be presented his Award by Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills Vince Cable MP, followed by a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.
About The Queen’s Awards For Enterprise Promotion
Launched in 2004, The Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion recognises individuals who have encouraged others into enterprise by promoting enterprise skills and attitudes in others. Each year up to ten individuals are given the award. The award takes the form of an engraved crystal chalice and a ceremonial Grant of Appointment, which gives details of the award and bears a copy of HM The Queen’s and the Prime Minister’s signatures.
