STUDENTS on an award-winning course have won high praise from a venture capital firm.

The 13 students from Durham University's school of biological and biomedical sciences piloted the enterprise module, devised by the university's Foundation for SME Development and supported by Northern Enterprise Limited (NEL), in their final year.

They had to create their own bioscience business and present a case for funding to a panel of experts that included NEL fund manager Duncan Lowery, who is also a guest lecturer on the course.

He said: "We were very impressed with the presentations as the standard was as high as that of some of the established businesses that approach us for funding.

"The students had to generate a business idea, develop the commercialisation strategy and put together a plan that would attract funding for a business start-up.

"NEL's Seed Capital Fund is specifically geared to backing companies set up as university spin-offs, so we are well aware of the value of introducing science students to the demands of the commercial world.

He said the course may be extended to other universities."

The course has taken top prize in the National Enterprise Teaching Awards, and 23 students have signed up for next year's module.