Students at Ealing’s University of West London shared £15,000 in prize money last month after impressing entrepreneur Claude Littner in a business competition designed to put their commercial skills to the test.
Sixty students took part in Claude’s Business Challenge, which ran from 13 to 28 May 2026 and saw teams compete in a series of real-world tasks covering investment, branding, sales, marketing and business strategy.
Known as Claude’s Business Challenge, the event brought together students from the Claude Littner Business School and other schools across the university. Ten teams tackled tasks covering investment, branding, sales, marketing negotiations and business strategy before presenting their ideas to a judging panel.
The winning team shared a £10,000 prize, while the runners-up received £5,000. Mr Littner also awarded a personal mentoring opportunity to the team he believed showed the greatest potential.
The competition was originally created by former MBA student Sanaa Sirajuddin Kazi, who now serves as activities and participation officer at the Students’ Union. This year’s event marked its second year and expanded participation beyond the business school.
Mr Littner attended the awards ceremony alongside his wife Thelma and university leaders.
Mr Littner said: “The level of talent I have witnessed throughout the competition has been remarkable. Every participant has demonstrated exceptional enthusiasm, dedication and professionalism. Their presentations and ideas have been truly outstanding.”
Student Georgina Tugwell, from the winning team, said: “This was one of the most rewarding experiences of my business school journey. It has pushed me beyond what I thought I was capable of, strengthening both my confidence and resilience.”
Lauren Coghlan, a member of the runner-up team, added: “This competition was the perfect bridge between academic theory and the unpredictable realities of modern business.”
