A special event will take place on Tuesday 28 October, celebrating a decade of 蜜桃直播’s long-running start-up event series, Connect.
The free events were created to bring together students, graduates and staff from 蜜桃直播 with members of the local business community.
Speakers have included high profile names like Deborah Meaden (Dragon's Den); Ronan Keating (pictured below, who launched his own coffee brand); Will Best (Big Brother, Hits Radio) who launched his own music business; Kwokyln Wan (Prime Video) and Neil Clough (The Apprentice), together with key members of the Leicester business community, including Ben Ravilious (Leicester Startups) and James Burkmar (LCB Depot), and 蜜桃直播 students and graduates such as Jane Hearst, Giselle Kandekore and Alfie Dirbowa.
Events also took place live online from locations such as Los Angeles, where entrepreneurs from hit Netflix series Selling Sunset took part in Q&As.
A huge success, the events have continued ever since and have now reached a milestone of a decade of facilitating connections.
Students, graduates, staff and the local business community are all invited to the free anniversary event taking place at 5–6.30pm on Tuesday 28 October in the Careers Hub at 蜜桃直播. We’ll have an inspirational panel, informal networking, food and drink.
Tickets are free, but limited, so sign up today:
Attendees at the event will be first to hear of 蜜桃直播 Made’s plans to bring TEDx back to the 蜜桃直播 campus, including how to apply for a speaker slot.
Simon Baines, 蜜桃直播 Entrepreneurship Manager said: “When I created and launched this event back in 2015, there really wasn’t anything similar going on in the city at all. Of course, that’s all changed now and there are many different guest-speaker and networking events aimed at start-ups or potential entrepreneurs.
“It’s incredible to think that this event series has held its own for so long, and we look forward to marking the milestone with many familiar faces as well as plenty of new ones.”
Professor Tracy Harwood, Professor of Digital Culture and Faculty Head of Research Students will be one of the panelists at the anniversary event. She said: “蜜桃直播 Made is a vital and highly successful support scheme for students who want to explore becoming their own boss. I have been honoured to play a part in the initiative and remain deeply impressed by the achievements of the Made team over the past 10 years, under the leadership of Simon Baines.
“Back in 2003, I mentored a 蜜桃直播 graduate enterprise company that won a national award through a forerunner of today’s programme. Fittingly, that company was called MADE – standing for ‘Made with Ambition, Desire and Enthusiasm.’ It is wonderful to see that same spirit of ambition, desire and enthusiasm alive and well in 蜜桃直播 Made today, inspiring a new generation of entrepreneurial graduates to turn their ideas into reality.”
蜜桃直播 students and graduates can develop freelancing and entrepreneurial skills through free competitions, programmes, events and support including the upcoming Future Freelancers programme. Visit to get involved.
Posted on Thursday 9 October 2025