Keele University’s ‘one stop shop’ for business-university collaboration – the Business Gateway – is today (11 November) celebrating its third anniversary.

Over the past three years, the Business Gateway has provided expert business support to more than 380 organisations and enterprises, facilitating access to student and graduate talent, leading academic research, professional expertise and state-of-the-art business facilities.

The Business Gateway was launched in November 2016 and was one of the main events of the inaugural Staffordshire Business Festival.  Three years on, the 2019 Festival was hosted in the University’s latest business accommodation, collaboration and support facility – the Smart Innovation Hub*.

The support programmes available through the Business Gateway include:

• A prestigious Innovation Leadership programme, designed to equip local business leaders and entrepreneurs with the skills, knowledge and strategies to successfully thrive when faced with future challenges to their growth;
• A Research and Innovation Support programme that places talented Keele students and graduates in the heart of local SMEs, supported by academic and professional expertise, in order to assist in the development of new products, services and processes;
• Europe’s largest Smart Energy Network Demonstrator, featuring collaborations with local SMEs and industry giants alike, to help develop energy solutions that will reduce reliance on fossil-fuel-derived energy and trial innovative new ways of energy use and management;
• Business Bridge – providing businesses with a range of specialist support in the development of new healthcare and medical technologies;
• Access to business accommodation and incubation provisions on one of the largest and longest-established Science and Innovation Parks in the country, which is already home to 40 innovation-led, knowledge-intensive businesses.

As a direct result of the business support opportunities delivered through the Business Gateway over the past three years, Keele University has supported 388 businesses, created 85 local jobs and has enabled businesses to launch 137 new products, processes and services.  The economic impact of the Business Gateway from employment impacts alone is almost £15million annually.

Stephen Roberts, Business Gateway Manager, said: “The Business Gateway is an important arm to the University’s strategy over the next five years, ensuring that we are engaging with local, regional and national businesses as we create a collaborative business ecosystem here in Staffordshire.

“The Gateway has allowed us to work with a variety of fantastic enterprises from across Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire, covering a huge array of sectors, and the impact on the local community and economy has been huge.

“You only need to look at the calibre of organisations that were recognised as part of the Breaking the Mould awards in October to see the positive impact that collaborations with Keele, through the Business Gateway, are having on local businesses.

“We look forward to celebrating the further successes of our local business partners – new and old – as the Business Gateway continues to go from strength to strength.”

To find out more about how businesses can access Keele University’s expertise, please visit www.keele.ac.uk/business, email business.gateway@keele.ac.uk or call 01782 733001.

*The following support programmes available within the Business Gateway are receiving funding from the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020

• Keele University Science & Innovation Park Smart Innovation Hub (ref: 32R17P01691) (delivering the Incubation Programme, Innovation Leadership Programme and the Research & Innovation Support Programme)
• Business Bridge (Ref: 32R18P02530)
• Smart Energy Network Demonstrator (Ref: 32R16P00706) (this project is also part-funded by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy)