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More than 190 attendees from local and national businesses attended the Business Partnership Dinner at Northumbria. They heard about the University’s recent business collaborations, and how to access a range of support from Northumbria and its facilities.

Mr Cridland also offered insight into the business environment in the UK, and how important university business partnerships are for a strongande dynamic economy.

Professor Andrew Wathey, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of �ֲ���ý��Ƶ, said: “Universities are a key economic asset, a dynamo with  massive potential for driving productivity, upskilling at all levels, and enterprise.  In this task the university-business relationship must be a key element – as it is in the triple helix, of research, teaching and enterprise, which characterises the mission of a 21st-century university.”

Mr Cridland added: “In a world of intense global competition and accelerating technical change the UK needs to be at the forefront of innovation. That means we must ensure that our workforce is equipped with the best possible technologies and expertise. Our universities are a key strength – they offer business a world-class resource which is increasingly valuable. In recent years, the UK’s universities, including �ֲ���ý��Ƶ, have made huge strides in developing the ways in which they can support business innovation and the research which underpins it.”

Business enterprise and entrepreneurial drive are a core focus for Northumbria. It has recently been named as the number one university in the UK for graduate start-ups based on turnover and in the past five years has created more than 100 new companies. Northumbria’s graduate start-ups now employ over 950 people. Newcastle Business School at Northumbria was also recently awarded Small Business Charter status for its support to SMEs.