Strikers Sports and Recreation are delighted to announce that they have been awarded Startup of the Year Runner Up at this year’s University of Portsmouth Enterprise Showcase.
The Enterprise Showcase 2018 was hosted at the University of Portsmouth’s Portland Building on Thursday 15th March, where the winners and runner ups of nine award categories were announced. The awards evening included exhibitions by multiple startup businesses and saw varying awards for staff, students and graduates.
Strikers Sports and Recreation was established in 2016 by University of Portsmouth alumnus Jack Latoy, and currently encompasses Strikers Taekwondo and Strikers Quidditch. The business has grown steadily since its beginning, now boasting 5 weekly classes across Portsmouth and recently hosting their largest Taekwondo grading to date. Meanwhile, Strikers Quidditch will be competing at the British Quidditch Cup later in March.
The Enterprise Showcase is hosted annually by nest, the student startup incubator, to display and celebrate the entrepreneurial work of University of Portsmouth students and graduates. Other awards celebrated on the night included the Social Start Up Award and Staff Entrepreneurial Spirit of the Year.
Enterprise Startup of the Year nominations were open to the public earlier in the year. The award celebrates the commitment and drive of companies and individuals who take pride in their work and use their passion to succeed within their business.
Strikers Sport and Recreation was nominated alongside 20 other student and graduate startups established in the last 18 months. You can read the nomination below:
I believe Strikers should win this award as recognition of their ambition, initiative, and commitment to their clients.
I admire the passion that Jack has for both his coaching and business, and the difference that this makes to the lives of the people Strikers reaches. Strikers Sports and Rec has expanded to reach more people than ever, growing from offering an established individual sport to coach a new and inclusive team sport as well.
Strikers Taekwondo coaches a variety of students from 5 years old through to university students and offers a familiar and safe community to all, alongside targeted coaching and an instructor who has genuine faith in his students. One year on, Strikers expanded to include quidditch coaching. Professionalising the coaching of quidditch hasn’t been done before in the UK, and Jack uses a combination of his knowledge from teaching other sports and his degree education to inspire coaches across the country in terms of content, technique and drive.
Jack brings out the best in his athletes, both in and out of sessions, and the friendly and encouraging environment that he offers them week-in and week-out is undoubtedly both the best element of his classes and the one that takes the most devotion. His commitment to his work and his students is an inspiration, and his genuine happiness for all of his students after their successes (either at gradings, tournaments, or competitions) is a sign of his dedication to them and their achievements.
Thrilled to receive the award, Jack said: “To be nominated alongside so many other strong candidates at the Showcase, and to see the variety of services these student and graduate businesses have to offer, was a magnificent experience. I was flattered to be awarded Runner Up in the category – to be recognised for a year of hard work is wonderful and I can’t wait to see the progression of Strikers Sports and Recreation in the coming year.”
Strikers wishes to extend congratulations to all award winners and nominees across the evening, with a special congratulations to Startup of the Year 1st place winners, The Student Food Project. You can view all nominations and winners at the nest website, here.
Strikers Taekwondo 
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