A new Business Gateway to Keele University
Businesses are now able to access Keele University’s full line-up of support programmes, following the launch of its new Business Gateway.
Launched at a special event as part of the Staffordshire Business Festival, Keele University’s Business Gateway provides a single entry route for businesses to access student and graduate talent, benefit from academic and professional staff expertise and utilise the wide range of leading research and business facilities available within the UK’s largest university campus.
The Business Gateway provides a new programme of business support and engagement including a new research and innovation support programme, support to develop innovation, leadership and entrepreneurial skills, and two major new collaborative product and service development programmes for international low carbon and healthcare markets.
Dr Mark Bacon, Keele University’s Director of Engagement and Partnerships, commented: “By creating this simple and accessible way in for businesses, we aim to make it as easy as possible for entrepreneurs, business leaders, owner-managers and innovators to benefit from the resources on their doorstep here at Keele and develop their companies and organisations.
“Our dedicated and knowledgeable relationship managers will guide businesses through everything that Keele University can offer them, and facilitate referral to other business support services operating within the region where appropriate.
“We are delighted to now be able to support more businesses than ever through the Business Gateway and our new programmes. The breadth of our offer now means that we can work in partnership with companies and organisations from a wider range of sectors and provide them with development opportunities that they may not be able to access otherwise.
“This will ultimately boost the local economy, establish Staffordshire as one of the UK’s best locations to do business and be an important way in which Keele delivers economic prosperity locally.”
The Business Gateway was officially launched on Friday 11 November as part of the inaugural Staffordshire Business Festival, of which Keele University is a Headline Sponsor. The launch event was attended by a wide range of businesses from across Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire, and featured an expert discussion panel on the topic of how businesses and universities can work together to stimulate economic growth.
The panel, which was chaired by business broadcaster Sally Bundock, consisted of Professor Roy Sandbach (Professor at Newcastle University, Innovation Board Chair at North East LEP and former R&D Director at Procter and Gamble), Kevin Richardson (Local Growth Consultant at the Higher Education Funding Council for England and a national commentator on the role of universities in the local economy), Sara Williams (Chief Executive of Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce) and Professor Trevor McMillan (Vice-Chancellor of Keele University).
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.
