Aspiring youngsters from across Leicester have celebrated making academic strides through a partnership with De Montfort University Leicester (DMU).
Young learners, together with their families, mentors and staff from Leicester, Birmingham and Coventry, took part in an event on DMU’s campus.
The celebration recognised the efforts of all the pupils who have participated in IntoUniversity programmes.
Since 2023, DMU, together with the University of Leicester, has played a key role running the IntoUniversity Leicester North Centre, in Beaumont Leys.
The centre supports young people from underrepresented and disadvantaged backgrounds through mentoring and educational guidance.
At the event, mentors and mentees shared stories, reflected on their journeys and celebrated their achievements. Certificates were awarded in recognition of participants’ hard work, commitment and engagement with the programme.
The Leicester centre has been made possible thanks to a landmark donation by the Randal Foundation and continued support from the Ian & Clare Mattioli Charitable Trust, the fund set up by Ian and his wife.
Leicester business leader Ian Mattioli, who co-founded financial services firm Mattioli Woods, attended the event and spoke about the importance of long-term investment in education and opportunity.
He said: “Successful people in Leicester and Leicestershire have historically put money back into people and education.
“A lot of people I know who have been successful try to do the right thing for the area they came from. IntoUniversity is exactly where I came from. I grew up in Beaumont Leys and the Leicester centre is based there.
“For me, it’s about giving people the opportunity to improve. If someone can go from not understanding something to understanding it a bit better, then the outcome has to be better.”
Ian added that mentoring had played a central role in his own business journey, which began in a small garage and now employs more than 1,000 people locally.
He said: “I am a great believer in mentoring. If you don’t train or mentor people, businesses and education can’t move on.
“It’s really nice to see so many smiling faces here today and hear some of the success stories from young people.”
Louisa Day, Associate Director of Development and Alumni Engagement at DMU, said:
“It was wonderful to celebrate the achievements of our IntoUniversity young people and the difference their mentors have made.
“We were delighted that Ian Mattioli could join us to see this first-hand. We are proud to support the Leicester North Centre in partnership with the University of Leicester, and incredibly grateful to the Ian and Clare Mattioli Charitable Trust and the Randal Foundation, without whose generosity the Centre would not exist.”
Closing the event, Penny Tysoe, Chief Development Officer at IntoUniversity, reflected on the impact of the programme.
She said: “Today has been such a wonderful highlight. It is lovely to see such a mix of young people, mentors and families from across the Midlands.
“To see the progress young people have made and the relationships they have built is a real testament to the mentors at IntoUniversity.
“To the young people in this room, your dedication speaks for itself. Showing up week after week, eager to learn and think about your future, is something to be genuinely proud of.”
IntoUniversity works with universities, schools and local communities to support young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in attaining educational achievement and progressing to higher education and other positive destinations.
Posted on Friday 5 June 2026