Â鶹´«Ã½

Students are celebrating after reaching the finals of the Leicestershire Innovation Awards, designed to recognise the best creative thinking in the city and county.

Â鶹´«Ã½’s Enactus Society has been nominated in the Innovation in Sustainability category for the group’s work on a range of eco projects on campus and in Leicester.

And designer Nayaab Mohamed, who studied at Â鶹´«Ã½, is shortlisted in the Student Innovation category for her sustainable fashion work.

They are among 32 finalists in 10 categories in the LeicestershireLive Innovation Awards, which will be held at the Space Centre on February 16.

There are 55 students in the Enactus Society, which creates and runs a number of projects across the city, working with Sustainable Â鶹´«Ã½ and the university’s SDG Hub work, led by Mark Charlton, associate director of sustainable development.

They include an allotment on campus, helping provide 40 homeless people with hygiene packs as part of a citywide support campaign and they are also working with hospital bosses to donated medical equipment to those in need in Kenya – being sent by boat to cut carbon emissions.

“We are so delighted to be in the finals,” said president Komal Shahzadi. “The ideas for Enactus come from all our members and sustainability is such a big focus for us. We are showing how you can make a difference by working together.”

Nayaab’s fashion career began when she was 17 working in fast fashion, an experience that made her more determined to make the industry more sustainable. She hit the headlines last year after helping to design a red carpet look for rising star Joy Crookes.

She said: “It’s an honour to be a finalist. There are so many really cool businesses. My goal is to champion cultural heritage garments, blending Eastern and Western aesthetics. I want to make the whole process sustainable and I do not use any ‘virgin materials’ which means they have never been used before.”

Every year, the LeicestershireLive awards represent the innovative ambition and spirit of people across Leicestershire - those that are driving the region’s industries forward, and paving the way for the future.

Both Enactus and Nayaab have been supported in their work by Â鶹´«Ã½’s Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Team through its Leicester’s Future Entrepreneurs programme, Pitch2Win and Entrepreneurship Day among others.

Mark Charlton, associate director of sustainable development, said: “Enactus are always so passionate about sustainability, and their projects benefit people both here at Â鶹´«Ã½ and in the wider community. We wish them the very best of luck.”

Simon Baines, Â鶹´«Ã½ Enterpreneurship manager, said: “We are so proud of Nayaab and the Enactus team and we’ll be cheering for them on the night.”