IOE Vice President helps the next generation of entrepreneurs

Tue 7 Oct 2014
Posted by: IOE News
IOE News

The IOE would like to extend its warmest congratulations to our Vice President, Dr Rami Ranger MBE, on the opening of a new centre for graduate entrepreneurship which has been created in his name at the London South Bank University.

A passionate advocate for both education and entrepreneurialism, Dr Ranger, a five time winner of The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise in International Trade, recently donated a quarter of million pounds to the university to support student entrepreneurship activities and to finance the opening of the Dr Rami Ranger MBE Centre for Graduate Entrepreneurship, which will provide a hub and workspace for students and graduates on enterprise programmes.

Dr Ranger, chairman and founder of the export company, Sun Mark Ltd, came to the UK in the 1970s at the age of 23 to study law, but a lack of funds meant that he ended up working in a fast food restaurant for the next seven years. After being made redundant, he decided to go it alone and set up his own freight forwarding company in 1987 with just £2, a typewriter, a car and a self-storage unit, before he moved into the food exporting trade, launching Sun Mark Ltd in 1995.

The opening of the University’s new centre was attended by key industry figures such as Theresa Villiers MP, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Keith Vaz MP for Leicester East, Steve Pound MP for Ealing North, Richard Harrington MP for Watford and Nat Puri, the industrialist and entrepreneur who founded the Purico Group.

In his speech, 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.”

He continued: “It’s very important that we support our education institutions. We should encourage young people and share our knowledge and experience with the next generation. This is all about building a future for the country.”

Adding: “Even if one student becomes an entrepreneur and starts creating jobs and wealth, then that would be a great achievement. I’m hoping several of them will become successful.”

Dr Ranger said that he chosen London South Bank University because of its diverse mix of students.

“So many different cultures, colours, religions are working here. This is the ideal place for me as an immigrant to come and show other immigrants that success is possible. Britain is a land of great opportunities and with the five golden principles; self-respect, work ethic, commitment, vision and empathy, everything is possible.”

At the unveiling of a plaque to mark the opening ceremony, Theresa Villiers said: “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.”

Sentiments that we at the IOE wholeheartedly endorse.

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