An Ulster University student has won Enterprise Mobility’s Intern of the Year competition for Northern Ireland and Scotland.
Ewan Nicholson, a final-year Business Studies student, worked as an Enterprise Management Trainee at Enterprise Mobility’s Belfast office during his year-long placement.
Competing with over 300 interns from across the UK, Ewan participated in the company’s annual placement competition which challenged interns to develop a business improvement idea with real potential for business impact.
After impressing judges at the local finals in Belfast, Ewan advanced to the regional finals at Enterprise Mobility’s headquarters in Stirling, Scotland, where he presented his idea to company executives. His innovative idea earned him the title of Intern of the Year for Scotland and Northern Ireland, along with a £500 cash prize.
Ewan’s business improvement proposal involved the creation of a QR code that directs customers to recommended local hotspots and tourist attractions, curated by the local Enterprise branch team.
Reflecting on the initiative, Ewan said:
“The goal was to strengthen the connection between customers' travel experiences and the Enterprise brand. To bring this concept to life, I created a mock-up app which illustrated the idea in action. The vision was to generate enough customer engagement so customers would download the Enterprise App, positioning it as an everyday tool alongside popular platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter).
“I also presented a section on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion highlighting the charity events I helped organise. These included a day of fasting across our branches in Northern Ireland to deepen our understanding of Ramadan, as well as coordinating Cash for Kids donation drops at all locations.”
Following an outstanding win at the regional awards, Ewan was invited to the national finals at Enterprise Mobility’s European Headquarters in London, where he pitched his idea to a panel of senior executives, competing alongside six other finalists. Although he didn’t secure the top prize, Ewan really enjoyed the experience, saying:
"When I won the regional competition, I felt brilliant that my hard work and idea had been recognised and that the development team wanted to get into contact with me to try and implement the idea. I couldn't believe it; the adrenaline was incredible, and I was very proud of myself for achieving such a feat.
“Through this experience, I gained a great range of skills that I can carry through with me throughout my professional career. Some of these include leadership, professional etiquette, networking skills, communication skills, organisation, and customer service. I have also recently passed my manager's exam which will allow me to come back full time after University final year and apply for management positions within the company."
Jo Watson, Academic Placement Tutor, attended the national finals with Ewan and commented:
“Ewan exemplifies the qualities of a fantastic student representative for Ulster University, showcasing the talent nurtured at the Ulster University Business School. This recognition is a testament to the quality of our students and the strong partnerships we have forged with leading employers. Everyone on the BSc Business Studies team extends our heartfelt congratulations to Ewan for his remarkable achievements.”
Ewan continues his career with Enterprise Mobility on a part-time basis while preparing for his final year of studies at Ulster University.