Anglia Ruskin University’s Centre for Enterprise Development and Research (CEDAR) has become the first university enterprise centre in the UK to be awarded the Institute of Enterprise and Entrepreneurs (IOEE) Centre of Excellence status.

The honour was presented during a ceremony held at the House of Commons where SFEDI, the Government-recognised sector skills body for enterprise and enterprise support, and the IOEE brought together key figures from the small business, enterprise and skills sector in the UK to celebrate the very best in enterprise learning and skills.

Toni Mascolo, co-founder of the Toni & Guy hairdressing chain, picked up the IOEE Lifetime Achievement Award at the ceremony.

Ruth Lowbridge, executive chairman of the SFEDI Group, said: “CEDAR has done an extraordinary job of embedding enterprise into Anglia Ruskin’s curriculum and post-curricula activity, and has demonstrated best practice when it comes to engaging entrepreneurs and business owners from their local business community.

“The activities of CEDAR show a clear commitment to promoting and developing enterprising learning and skills amongst different groups of learners, both within the UK and internationally. The IOEE Advisory Council was keen to recognise CEDAR’s achievements in this area and is delighted to recognise the centre as the first IOEE Centre of Excellence.”