Key Points
- Sanaa Kazi, who is a former MBA student from the Claude Littner Business School of the University of West London (UWL), received the Student Leadership and Enterprise Award during the University Alliance Awards 2026.
- The ceremony was held at the University of Derby on September 3, 2026.
- Ms Kazi received the award due to her creation of the Claude Littner Business Challenge, which is inspired by Apprentice.
- The challenge saw the participation of 60 UWL students, who competed in a number of commercial assignments, including investing, branding, sales, marketing and business negotiations.
- Two winning groups shared the prize money of £15,000, sponsored by the businessman, Claude Littner.
- Ms Kazi currently serves as vice president of activities and participation at the UWL Students’ Union.
uk/local/ealing/">Ealing (West London Times) September 11, 2026 — Sanaa Kazi, a student from Ealing’s University of West London, has won a national award after creating an Apprentice-inspired business challenge backed by businessman Claude Littner.
Ms Kazi, who studied for an MBA at UWL’s Claude Littner Business School, received the Student Leadership and Enterprise Award at the University Alliance Awards 2026. According to reporting by the London Post, the awards ceremony was held at the University of Derby.
The initiative created by Ms Kazi—known as the Claude Littner Business Challenge—is a student competition heavily inspired by the BBC television programme The Apprentice, on which Mr Littner serves as a trusted adviser to Lord Sugar.
How Did the Apprentice-Inspired Business Challenge Work for Students?
As detailed in coverage by Ealing.News, the challenge brought together 60 UWL students to compete in a series of rigorous, business-focused tasks. Participating teams tackled real-world corporate assignments covering investment, branding, sales, marketing negotiations, and business strategy.
At the conclusion of the multi-stage event, two winning teams shared a lucrative £15,000 prize fund generously sponsored by Mr Littner. The structure of the competition was designed to bridge the gap between academic theory and the unpredictable realities of the modern corporate environment.
What Did Sanaa Kazi and Claude Littner Say About the Achievement?
Following her national recognition at the University of Derby ceremony, Ms Kazi shared her thoughts on the milestone achievement. As documented by Ealing.News, she stated:
“Winning this award is incredibly meaningful, especially seeing the Claude Littner Business Challenge recognised on a wider scale. I’m so proud of what we’ve achieved, and excited to take it even further.”
Business magnate Claude Littner also expressed high praise for the student leader. As reported across regional outlets, Mr Littner stated:
“I’m incredibly proud of Sanaa, not for what she’s achieved, but for what she’s going to achieve, I think she’s a unique character, with a tremendous attitude, a go getter. I’ve got no doubt that whatever she puts her hand to, she’ll be successful. And I hope that she involves me in some of these things.”
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Background of the Particular Development
The University Alliance represents 20 professional and technical universities across the United Kingdom that share a core commitment to innovation, inclusivity, and real-world student impact. Its annual awards program is structured to celebrate pioneering work, leadership, and outstanding achievements by individuals and teams across member institutions.
The Claude Littner Business Challenge itself represents a collaborative effort between the university, the Claude Littner Business School, and the UWL Students’ Union. Having started as an initiative by Ms Kazi during her time as an MBA student and business society co-chairperson, the event has expanded rapidly in scale. By its second year, it successfully widened participation beyond traditional business school cohorts to attract talent from across multiple disciplines within the university, culminating in high-profile corporate backing and national higher education recognition.
How This Development Can Affect Students and Higher Education Institutions
For students at the University of West London and across University Alliance member institutions, high-profile national recognition of student-led entrepreneurial initiatives validates the importance of practical, enterprise-driven learning models. As graduate employability becomes an increasingly critical metric for higher education providers, awards of this nature encourage institutions to back student innovation more aggressively.
For aspiring student entrepreneurs, Ms Kazi’s trajectory—moving from conceptualising a business challenge to securing high-net-worth backing from figures like Claude Littner and subsequently winning a national leadership award—serves as a blueprint for bridging classroom education with industry networking. This development signals a growing trend where universities that empower student-led commercial simulations will likely see stronger engagement, improved career readiness, and tighter integration with corporate mentors.
