The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) has been recognised for its entrepreneurial spirit after being shortlisted in the 2019 Times Higher Education (THE) Awards. UCLan has made the final six in the Outstanding Entrepreneurial University category for the work of its Centre for SME Development.
The Centre sits at the heart of the institution to lead an entrepreneurial culture and acts as a gateway for the region’s SMEs to access relevant services within the institution. It also supports staff and students to transform their ideas into businesses by developing their entrepreneurship and employability skills through its Propeller Enterprise Hub.
In the last academic year alone, the centre’s business mentors provided 936 hours of one-to-one support and delivered workshops and networking events to 1,546 students.
The University also helped to establish 201 new student start-ups in the 2017-18 academic year. Professor Sue Smith, Interim Director of Innovation and Enterprise at UCLan, said: “We are delighted to once again be recognised by the Times Higher Awards for our growing entrepreneurial culture. The Centre for SME Development is led by our members’ demands to make sure it’s in a position to make a significant contribution to the communities it works with.
“Through this ground-breaking approach, we have created an environment that allows for knowledge exchange and collaboration across campus and beyond. We aim to build on this success by harnessing the entrepreneurial spirit of our students and empowering them to drive change, develop their skills and inspire the same spirit in others.”
UCLan is no stranger to success at the THE Awards. Last year it won in three categories; International Collaboration of the Year, Excellence and Innovation in the Arts and Most Innovative Contribution to Business-University Collaboration.
Lancashire businesses interested in accessing the UCLan Centre for SME Development and a range of other services can do so through Boost Business Lancashire. To check your eligibility and start your growth conversation, call 0800 488 0057.
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