Shovon Wiggan

Business Management - BA (Hons)

After becoming a mum, Shovon didn’t think her dream of going to uni was achievable. Now she’s not only nailing the final year of her degree, but she’s also launching her own business through BCU’s STEAMhouse.   

Shovon is a girl with big dreams! Now she has graduated she is ready to take over the world with her business Inspire-A-Doll. 

"After having time out of education to have my son, I was advised by my mentor Legacy Centre of Excellence CEO Keith Smith to go back to education and went back to college to do an access to business course where my teacher Tina Sandhu really inspired me to stay focused on my goals. This gave me a kickstart onto the path I wanted to pursue at BCU studying business management.

I was inspired to create my own business whilst studying after my niece approached me expressing her negative feelings about her skin colour. She felt she wasn't beautiful enough because she didn’t look like any of the dolls she sees in the shops. I knew I had to show her she is beautiful, and that our differences are what make us so special. This moment was when I created my business, Inspire a Doll – a children’s doll range.

BCU have initiatives within its STEAMhouse building - a place where I can bring my ideas and get advice and guidance from business experts and academics. I got access to facilities, offices spaces, workshops.

Being part of STEAM has helped make me feel really at home. I have been fortunate to have a lot of support from my business advisors Richard Scutt, he has been so accommodating and happy to support me in any way possible. STEAMhouse gave me the confidence to reach out to manufacturers, helped me with branding and provided me with an office space to build my business.

Being a mum whilst studying and building a business has been very challenging thing at times but winning Recommended Entrepreneur of the Year 2021, Birmingham City University Entrepreneur of the Year 2022 and Birmingham City University Business School Best Enterprising Student 2022 has made the journey more fruitful, as after the hard work comes amazing opportunities.

There aren't many people that speak about being a student and a mum, so it’s been great to break the stereotype. I think having my business has helped me overcome this challenge as I’ve shrugged off the stigma and created my own path by being all the things I am- hardworking, positive, and motivated. So now I don't see it as a challenge, I see it as something that I should be proud of as I'm able to do so many great things all at the same time.

Despite priding myself on being a highly productive person, having the support available has made such a difference to my experience here at BCU. Juggling being a mum of 1, a business owner and a student has been very interesting at times but now that I have graduated, I look back on the journey and I couldn’t be happier with where I have travelled to.

To me, 'I AM BCU' means being the best version of yourself, resilience, tenacity, growth, personal development, networking, time management and self-belief.