The David Richerataux Global Enterprise Award

Annual Report 2025/26

The David Richerataux Global Enterprise Award

At Manchester Metropolitan University, we recognise the transformative power of enterprise. With your support, we are committed to providing exceptional opportunities for students as they launch their own ventures.
This year, thanks to your generosity, Ishan and Louis were able to travel to Switzerland to gain a deeper understanding of the international marketplace and to learn first-hand what it takes to build a successful business. Joined by Aarti, who was kindly funded by fellow alumnus and supporter Ian Branagan, all three students were able to embrace this enriching opportunity and benefit from your entrepreneurial experience and guidance.
We are delighted to share with you the annual report for the David Richerataux Global Enterprise Award. The report highlights the impact your support has had on Ishan and Louis this year, as well as Aarti’s experience of spending time with you and the ABC team
Thank you for your continued generosity and for championing this exciting and innovative award.
“As one of three student entrepreneurs selected for the Global Enterprise Award in Switzerland, I had the incredible opportunity to visit ABC Translation in Lausanne, meet with David and his team to learn all about how the business was created and developed and is now positioned a leading global business in translation services.
“I also had the privilege of sitting down with Don Howat, Vice President at Nestlé and Starbucks, gaining first hand insight into how some of the world’s biggest brands approach marketing, and customer relationships at scale.
“Beyond these meetings, spending time in Geneva, Lausanne and Montreux, and being hosted so generously by David, broadened my perspective on what’s possible, both professionally and personally.
“The trip has had a genuine impact on how I think about growing my own business, TopTile Media, particularly in relation to global positioning, building strong client relationships, and the importance of putting myself in environments that challenge me to think bigger.
“As a first year student, experiences like this are priceless, and I’m incredibly grateful. I’d like to thank David once again for giving me the opportunity to travel out here. Without his generosity, this trip simply wouldn’t have been possible.”

Louis, BA(Hons) Business Management, 1st Year

In their words
Louis
“The experience was fantastic for me. David was incredibly accommodating, enthusiastic, and genuinely played a huge role in making the trip so enjoyable. Louis and Aarti were also great to spend time with. They were as keen as me to see as much of Switzerland as possible while we were there. I really appreciated how flexible the trip was; on days when we had spare time, David took us to a viewpoint, and on another day we swapped office discussions for a hike. The atmosphere was very relaxed, which made all my conversations with David feel natural, open, and honest.
“Spending time at ABC gave me a real sense of how important it is to build an enthusiastic team and maintain strong working relationships. It was clear how well David gets on with everyone he’s hired, and that really stood out. I also found it fascinating to see how he has diversified revenue by investing in student accommodation through ABC. Additionally, an afternoon spent with Carlos, one of David’s team members, showed me the value of nurturing relationships outside the company. Carlos was able to skip queues at both the Notary and the Chancellery simply because of the connections he’s built!
“Switzerland was beautiful, and I’ll definitely be going back! I’m very grateful to David, not just for the funding, but for being such a genuine, kind, and enthusiastic person. He truly made the trip what it was and I can’t wait to work on my own business, applying the skills and experiences I’ve taken from the trip .”

Ishan, BSc (Hons) Chemical Science

In their words
Ishan
“I recently had the opportunity to travel to Switzerland as part of the Global Enterprise Award. Over five days, we learned directly from David and the team at ABC Translation. We gained a real insight into how an international business operates. It was an inspiring experience that gave me a lot to reflect on, particularly around sustainable growth and building strong global relationships.
“The trip has also had a big influence on how I think about my own venture, Shakti. It highlighted the importance of being intentional with growth and taking the time to build something robust and long lasting. I was especially struck by how multilingual and internationally focused the environment was, which has motivated me to begin learning another language myself. I’ve come away feeling more energised and excited about developing the idea further.
“I just wanted to say a huge thank you to Ian for making this opportunity possible and to David and his team for all the time you gave us during our week-long visit. I’m really grateful for the support and for being given the chance to be part of something like this. It’s not something I take lightly, and I truly appreciate it.”

Aarti, BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science

In their words
Aarti
As ever, David, a huge thank you from Manchester Met for being such a dedicated supporter of entrepreneurial students striving to turn their business ideas into reality. Alongside your generous gifts, your insight and advice are helping to refine the programme and ensure award holders are able to make the most of this life‑changing opportunity. The award continues to provide invaluable international experiences for those who might not otherwise be able to access them, and we are deeply grateful for your continued support.

Kathryn
Kathryn Fisk
Senior Philanthropy Manager
Manchester Metropolitan University
K.Fisk@mmu.ac.uk
+44(0) 07876 104517
Manchester Metropolitan University has
exempt charitable status HMRC No. EW37493
Thank you

David Richerataux global enterprise award 2026 report