A MENTOR with the Big Deal enterprise competition for young people has won Industry Mentor Of The Year at an awards event organised by Brightside Charitable Trust.

Matt Long was nominated for the award by the University of York’s Widening Participation team, which runs the Big Deal competition in partnership with the Excellence Hub for Yorkshire and Humber and education charity Brightside.

The Big Deal is a ten-week enterprise competition for high achieving students in Years nine or ten who will develop a business plan and pitch it at final Dragons’ Den-style event.

Matt mentored three students who designed the “Wander Wellies”, a wellington design which fused fashion and practicality.