Skip to content
Northumbria creates fund for next generation of student entrepreneurs

Press release -

Northumbria creates fund for next generation of student entrepreneurs

Student start-ups will be given a new boost after the launch of an enterprise and innovation fund at the UK’s number one university for graduate businesses.

Northumbria launched the initiative at a fundraising dinner at its city campus, attended by a host of prestigious guests, including one of the institution’s most well-known alumnus Sir Jonathan Ive, Senior Vice President, Design at Apple Inc.

ir Jonathan was joined at the dinner by more than 150 guests and alumni including Scotland’s decorated rugby international Scott Hastings and fashion designer Scott Henshall. The fundraising programme included a lively auction of lots, each with a special Northumbria connection, such as an original artwork by the last pitman painter Norman Cornish.

Every penny raised at the dinner will go towards a new Enterprise and Innovation Fund to create and support more entrepreneurial students and graduate businesses. The fund will build on Northumbria’s outstanding status as the UK’s leading university for graduate start-ups based on estimated turnover. In the last five years’ alone, the University has created more than 100 new companies, which employ 800 staff.

Vice-Chancellor of Northumbria University, Professor Andrew Wathey said: “The dinner was a special opportunity for Northumbria University to share its commitment to enterprise and innovation and we were delighted to be joined by our guest of honour and alumnus, Sir Jonathan Ive.

“There is no better demonstration of an entrepreneurial culture in our programmes than the role the University has played over the last few years in supporting the creation of new graduate businesses. Providing support for more students and alumni to engage in this activity is the purpose of our new fund.

“It will give more of our students access to seed-funding to establish and grow their business ideas, undertake enterprise-focused work placements, and access proof-of-concept funding. Northumbria has set itself the challenge of becoming a new kind of excellent university. One way we can do that is to continue investing in Enterprise and Innovation.”

Sir Jonathan, a graduate of Northumbria’s Design for Industry course, spent time on campus before the dinner meeting with students at the University’s School of Design with Executive Dean for Arts, Design and Social Sciences, Professor Steven Kyffin. “Our workshops and studios help students integrate strategic thinking and new ideas with making, prototyping and testing their designs in real time,” said Professor Kyffin. “This is one of our core strengths as a leading School of Design and it is vital to the future of enterprise and innovation.”

The Enterprise and Innovation Dinner was sponsored by brand development agency Xanobia and Yorkshire Bank.

Northumbria offers a range of courses for the next generation of entrepreneurs, including our innovative Entrepreneurial Business Management degree. To find out more about this course click here. For more information about enterprise at Northumbria click here

The Enterprise and Innovation Fund is still open to donations. For more information about the dinner visit here or ifyou would like to donate to the fund, please click here.

Categories


Northumbria is a research-rich, business-focussed, professional university with a global reputation for academic excellence. To find out more about our courses go towww.northumbria.ac.uk

If you have a media enquiry please contact our Media and Communications team at media.communications@northumbria.ac.uk or call 0191 227 4571.

Contacts

Related content

  •  Could you be an entrepreneur?

    Could you be an entrepreneur?

    ​Northumbria University, Newcastle, and Gateshead Council are inviting recent graduates to join a free business start-up programme designed to help aspiring entrepreneurs launch new ventures.

  • Business start-up success for international graduate

    Business start-up success for international graduate

    An international graduate who set up his own business with the help of Northumbria University has hailed the University as providing ‘the best support I could ever have wished for’.
    Sadhu Kanakarajan, who graduated from Northumbria in 2013 with a MSc Business Information Systems management degree, is the first ever graduate to be sponsored by the University via UKBA’s Tier 1 entrepreneur visa s

  • University helping businesses to grow

    University helping businesses to grow

    The first Business & IP Centre outside London was developed as a pilot in Newcastle in 2011 and has now secured over £1.3m to provide a full-scale operational service to businesses.

  • First sight of innovative collaborations

    First sight of innovative collaborations

    Rt Hon David Willetts MP has seen cutting-edge research and business collaborations at Northumbria University’s Northern Design Centre (NDC).

  • From Northumbria to Silicon Valley

    From Northumbria to Silicon Valley

    A leading venture capitalist from Silicon Valley recently returned to Northumbria University, Newcastle, where she graduated, to inspire a new generation of entrepreneurs.

  • Northumbria at the heart of GENESIS 2015

    Northumbria at the heart of GENESIS 2015

    ​Northumbria University, Newcastle, is set to play a key role alongside the business community this month in the North East’s first inclusive celebration of enterprise and entrepreneurship.

  • Tea for two takes business prize

    Tea for two takes business prize

    Sisters who set up a business selling low calorie chocolate drinks have been named runners-up in a competition to find the brightest young entrepreneurs in the region.

  • Northumbria University students take summer market by storm

    Northumbria University students take summer market by storm

    While many of their counterparts may be enjoying the traditional life of a student, one group of 22-year-olds has launched a successful holiday business with help and support from Northumbria University, Newcastle.

  • COMMENT: The many faces of Norman Cornish

    COMMENT: The many faces of Norman Cornish

    As the University Gallery prepares to open its doors to a new exhibition of work by the late Norman Cornish, Gallery Director and agent, Mara-Helen Wood, discusses the famous artist’s life and works

  • Northumbria Professor leads design debate

    Northumbria Professor leads design debate

    Northumbria University’s Pro Vice-Chancellor (Business and Enterprise) Professor Steven Kyffin has been invited to give the opening talk at TEDx Eindhoven, a prestigious technology and design conference in The Netherlands.