Sarah Willingham

Why did you choose Cranfield?

Sarah Willingham chose to study for an MBA at Cranfield in order to support her entrepreneurial ambitions.

What was Cranfield's impact

After graduating, Sarah successfully raised the finance to buy The Bombay Bicycle Club in 2004, and turned a heavily loss-making business of six restaurants into a profitable group of seventeen, establishing the largest chain of Indian restaurants in the UK. The business was sold in 2007. She also set up a successful Nutraceuticals business, which she sold in 2011.

Sarah Willingham is now best known as a money saving expert and consumer champion. She regularly appears on TV and radio programmes, including Daybreak, This Morning, The Wright Stuff, Channel 5 and Sky News as a personal finance expert commenting on both personal finance and consumer affairs. She also helps consumers save money via her consumer-facing website www.letssavesomemoney.com.

Sarah appreciated the strong element of personal development and self-reflection that the Cranfield MBA gave her. The programme helped her to develop a network of contacts and close friends, and faculty and tutors offered guidance and advice that helped her understand the acquisition process in greater detail. Guest entrepreneur speakers also offered great inspiration.

Sarah has appeared on three series of the BBC TV series The Restaurant with chef Raymond Blanc and on The Apprentice as one of Lord Sugar's advisors. She recently joined Cranfield School of Management’s advisory board.