London South Bank University's dedication to graduate entrepreneurship has attracted a £250,000 gift from successful entrepreneur and social reformer Dr Raminder (Rami) Ranger MBE.
Dr Rami Ranger MBE is chairman and founder of Sun Mark Ltd and Sea, Air & Land Forwarding Ltd. He started his business career in the 1980's with just £2 and a typewriter from a self-storage unit. Sun Mark Ltd is marketing its fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) in 115 countries with staggering results and has won the Queen's Awards for Enterprise for International Trade an unprecedented five consecutive years and is the only company in Britain with this accolade. Dr Ranger himself was named the Institute of Directors' Director of the Year in 2013.
The generous £250,000 gift to LSBU will be used to set up a fund for Enterprise Excellence in Dr Ranger's name to support student entrepreneurship activities at the university. In addition, LSBU will establish the Dr Rami Ranger MBE Centre for Graduate Entrepreneurship, which will provide a hub and workspace for students and graduates on enterprise programmes.
The centre was opened on Friday 3rd October by the Rt Hon Theresa Villiers MP, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and guests included the Rt. Hon. Keith Vaz MP, Richard Harrington MP, Stephen Pound MP, Lord Sheikh, Dr Virander Paul, Deputy High Commissioner of India and Mr SS Sidhu, Minister Coordination at the Indian High Commission.
Ms Villiers unveiled a plaque that officially marked the beginning of the new partnership, which the Secretary of State praised by saying "I am sure that the work that will be done here will benefit the students by giving them the important skills that they will need. It is a great project and I would like to congratulate Rami Ranger and London South Bank University."
In a speech to the guests, Dr Ranger said: "I am humbled to have this opportunity to speak to you about two subjects that have been so critical to my success – education and entrepreneurship.
"Where I am today is a far cry from where I started. Education enriched and shaped the futures of myself and my siblings. I started with nothing and now have the opportunity to help others make the most of their lives. I believe in a strong educational foundation, and have been impressed by London South Bank University which plays a great part in raising the aspirations of its students." He made special mention of his late mother for her emphasis to education and to his wife for her support. He said that he hoped the centre would empower people through education and enable them to free their imaginations and that would play a part in making their aspirations come to fruition. He further added that he hoped other entrepreneurs would follow suit and support our educational institutions.
Both Mr Stephen Pound MP and Mr Richard Harrington MP praised Dr Ranger for his work in both the fields of business and for social causes.
LSBU Vice Chancellor Professor David Phoenix added: "The University thanks Dr Rami Ranger for his generous donation to support our enterprise activities. His entrepreneurial spirit is shared by LSBU and is something we embed in our own ethos by building real world experience into every aspect of our curriculum, nurturing the student's confidence and self-belief – the very strength that has helped to make Rami Ranger the success he is today."
