Nigel Brown, one of the two external members of the University's Council has been awarded a Queen's Award for Enterprise Promotion 2007 for his key role in the growth of the ’‘Cambridge Phenomenon'.

He founded financial services company N W Brown Group Ltd in 1974. The Group, which employs some 90 people, provides a wide range of financial services to companies and individuals. It includes The Great Eastern Investment Forum, a 350-strong business angel group which provides very early-stage venture capital which has helped more than 70 businesses.

He also raised a "first institutional round" venture capital fund called The Gateway Fund. The latter, which was aimed exclusively at hi-tech, mainly Cambridge-based businesses, closed in March 2001 with funds to invest of £35 million. NW Brown Group Ltd is one of the first two recipients of Enterprise Capital Funding which will result in an early stage venture fund totalling £25million.

Nigel is Chairman of the Greater Cambridge Partnership, the sub-regional economic partnership with a remit covering the 25-mile area centred on Cambridge, Co-Founder of the Cambridge Network Ltd and Chairman since 1999 of Cambridge Arts Theatre.

The citation for the Award reads: “Nigel Brown's activities have spanned 33 years and he is considered to be one of the key players in creating Cambridge's reputation as a home for entrepreneurial clusters.”

His contributions to the University have been great. As well as serving on the Council he is Chairman of the University Audit Committee, a Trustee of Cambridge Union Society and a City Fellow at Hughes Hall.

Dr Timothy Mead, University of Cambridge Registrary, said: “Nigel is a great supporter of Cambridge and of the University. We are delighted to see this recognition of his tireless and innovative work."

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