Northumbria graduates celebrated at the North East Business Awards

Graduate entrepreneurs from Northumbria University are celebrating after winning recognition at the grand final of the North East Business Awards 2026.

Hasan Hamid, founder of gourmet burger brand Burger Drop, and Husain Ayoob, founder and CEO of AI solutions company Ayoob AI, each won their categories at sub-regional heats of the prestigious annual awards.

On Thursday 1 October, they went head-to-head with other sub-regional winners for the overall North East titles at a glittering grand final dinner held at Hardwick Hall Hotel, Sedgefield.

Hasan, who studied at Northumbria’s Newcastle Business School before graduating from Northumbria in 2018, was named a finalist in the coveted Small Business of the Year category and went on to win the title in the grand final.

Husain, who graduated from Northumbria in 2024 after studying a BSc (Hons) in Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence, was named a finalist in both the Rising Star and Start-up Award categories.

Both businessmen credited the support they have received from Northumbria’s student and graduate enterprise team as being instrumental in helping to bring their ideas to life.

Northumbria is ranked in the top 20 for the number of UK undergraduates who go into skilled jobs and guarantees real-world learning opportunities on every undergraduate course to give students hands-on experience and the chance to build their professional skills and networks long before they graduate.

The University’s renowned Incubator Hub, which offers co-working space and provides high-quality support for student and graduate entrepreneurs to establish and grow thriving businesses, has also played a pivotal role in helping both brands develop.

Northumbria has been ranked in the top 10 in the UK for the last 17 years for graduate business start-ups, based on estimated turnover, according to the Higher Education Business Community Interaction Survey (HEBCIS) for 2024/2025.

Burger Drop

Hasan leads one of the UK's fastest-growing independent food brands which he launched after spotting an opportunity within the emerging ‘better burgers’ market. He launched his first restaurant on Westgate Road in Newcastle and Burger Drop became an instant success with foodies far and wide. His story is one of vision, grit and an unshakeable belief that an independent food brand from the North East could compete, and win, on the national stage.

The British Franchise Association (BFA) accredited business now operates seven UK locations, serves more than 1,000 customers every day and supports 58 jobs across its network, up from 20 in the past year. Five new sites opened in 2025 alone. Revenues are forecast to continue to grow, with two further UK locations planned this year and international franchise discussions at an advanced stage.

The business offers a clear progression route for its people, from crew member to franchise owner, and its founding team has raised more than £250,000 for communities affected by war, poverty and humanitarian crises.

“Reaching the grand final is a credit to our whole team, and to everyone who has supported Burger Drop as we've grown,” said Hasan. “We started out wanting to build something the North East could be proud of, so being recognised here means a great deal.

“The support I have had from the University since day one has been crucial for the growth of Burger Drop, particularly in terms of linking me up with industry professionals. I now have a network of influential and experienced individuals who I can turn to for guidance.”

Ayoob AI

In September 2024, Husain founded Ayoob AI immediately after graduation with no external investment. The Newcastle-based company builds and trains AI models entirely from scratch, then embeds them in production software for enterprise and government clients. Its work spans computer vision, document intelligence, video analysis, cybersecurity and forecasting.

During his final year at University, Husain took part in a six-month live project with Lockheed Martin alongside two of his classmates, which helped give him the confidence to launch his own business.

In under two years, Ayoob AI has been appointed to the UK Government's Dynamic Purchasing System frameworks for AI and automation, achieved ISO 27001:2022 certification for information security to ensure regulatory compliance, and filed five UK patent applications. Husain has built a client base across higher education, healthcare, environmental services and the public sector, and plans to more than double its revenue in the next year while growing its in-house team.

Husain also mentors two early-stage companies and speaks to international students at Northumbria about his journey from graduate to founder. Last year, he was invited to attend the Universities UK Chancellors Reception, hosted by Lord David Willetts, at the House of Lords. The event focused on the impact universities are having on entrepreneurship and economic growth, and he had the opportunity to discuss how technology and AI are shaping the future of business, with education, government, and business leaders.

“I’m so proud of everything I have achieved so far with Ayoob AI, and the advice and guidance from the team at Northumbria’s Incubator Hub cannot go unnoticed,” Husain said. “They gave me the roadmap I needed to follow from a professional, governmental, and personal standpoint, showing me how to juggle daily life whilst building a global company from the bottom up. They helped me see the potential of Ayoob AI and believed in me to grow it at scale.

“It is an incredibly exciting time for the business and this kind of recognition helps to confirm we’re on the right track. I look forward to continuing to work with major brands and organisations around the world.”

Also shortlisted in the Rising Star category was Luke Henderson, who combined his business background, technical skills and lived experience of ADHD to create NeuroMoney, a fintech startup helping neurodivergent adults manage their money, while studying his undergraduate degree at Northumbria.

Professor Gabrielle Finn, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education at Northumbria University, said: "Husain and Hasan show what Northumbria graduates can achieve when they combine ambition with the skills and confidence they build here. We’re proud to offer a range of business support to our students and graduates, from one-to-one advice and guidance to interactive events and workshops, access to specialist advisors and the University’s dedicated co-working space.

“This builds on the hands-on experience our students gain throughout their studies through simulated learning, consultancy projects or live briefs with industry partners, and stepping into the business world for a placement or internship. To have our graduate entrepreneurs, from very different sectors, so well represented in the grand final of the North East Business Awards, is a source of real pride across the University and we are delighted for them.”

Northumbria’s Graduate Futures support is available for all students from first year through to final year and beyond graduation, providing advice and guidance on everything from exploring careers options to starting a business.

ENDS

Notes to editors

Northumbria University is ranked in the top 20 for the number of UK undergraduates who go into skilled jobs in the Graduate Outcomes Survey, 2023/24 leavers.