Institution Fellow David Falzani awarded MBE

An engineer who has founded start-up businesses in Europe and America has been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

David Falzani MBE, CEng FIMechE, has led Sainsbury Management Fellows (SMF) for seven years, during which time he has worked with the Royal Academy of Engineering to inspire engineers to develop their skills in innovation, management and governance. 
 
As CEO of Polaris London, David manages a consultancy that steers young businesses through key growth phases.  He has founded start-up businesses in the UK, Italy and USA, raising over £5 million from venture capitalists and achieving trade sales.
 
David is also an honorary professor at the University of Nottingham’s Business School where he has taught entrepreneurship for over five years. 
 
This association led to the creation of the SMF Engineers in Business competition which gives undergraduates hands-on experience of innovation and business. The competition challenges engineering students to create a novel product concept that meets a need in society and that demonstrates the use of engineering skills in the creative process.
 
David said: “I have accepted the honour in the name of Engineers in Business Fellowship (EIBF) – which administers the SMF MBA Scholarship – where, during my 10 years as a committee member and now President, over £3 million has been given away in scholarships to young engineers to help them study MBAs at the top 14 business schools in the world. 
 
“Overall, the SMF Scholarship scheme has awarded £8 million in scholarships over 30 years. Many of these recipients have gone on to have great impact on the UK economy; helped solve some of society’s problems; created 18,000 jobs and wealth for the country. They have also mentored and supported the upcoming generation of engineers to help them in turn achieve their full potential.”  
 
The SMF MBA scholarship supports young engineers in gaining business skills from top international business schools so that they can use their engineering and business skills to lead blue chip companies and create innovative businesses. 
 
David heads a network of SMFs who have founded 275 thriving companies, and 153 SMFs have founded businesses valued at £4.6 billion and created 18,000 jobs.
 
The Sainsbury Management Fellows network currently has more than 260 SMFs mentoring young engineers.