Nick Heard is an Entrepreneurship Champion at Yale College, Wrexham


Finalist: Public Sector

Nick, in his role as Entrepreneurship Champion at Yale College, generates and develops student and staff awareness of enterprise in order to encourage entrepreneurship. His enthusiasm motivates individual students to start their own business, value their achievements and adopt a commercial business attitude.

Nick has shown admirable support to the new Entrepreneurship Developer at North East Wales Institute of Higher Education, providing continued guidance and support, as well as offering enlightment in terms of the perspective and needs of students.

His close rapport with the students allows him to encourage other staff to see things from their perspective and therefore improve the dynamics of the College environment and culture.

Nick has made real difference to the young people he comes into contact with by showing them empathy, encouraging a learning mindset, channelling their enthusiasm, being an accessible support model, taking time to listen, instilling confidence and guiding with a respect which they understand and appreciate. He has a moral strength which students want to identify with and emulate.

Nick is a fun, optimistic and quietly inspirational mentor and role model.

Tell us something your colleagues don’t know about you?
I worked for 10 years as part of the mountain rescue team in South Wales

Who inspires you?
H.W. Tilman – mountaineer/sailor and John Wesley

What is your top leadership tip?
Encouraging people not to fear making mistakes but to learn from them