Industry engagement, whether in the form of our curricula, research, civic activity, or knowledge exchange, has always been of great significance to the University of Derby.

Considered the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, Derby is a city where innovators have made their mark on the world for more than 300 years.

As the only university in the county of Derbyshire, we play a critical role as an anchor institution that works side-by-side with thriving global businesses, successful SMEs and other cultural and voluntary organisations to drive innovation and solution-focused responses to challenges.

Collaborating with global brands such as Alstom, the NHS, Toyota and Holcim, we are working to drive innovation and create a collaborative environment where research has real impact and graduate talent can flourish.

Reflecting back, it has now been two years since the opening of the Nuclear Skills Academy in Derby, in partnership with Rolls-Royce Submarines. More than 1,000 applications were received for an initial 200 places, and since then, we have continued to work collaboratively to ensure we are creating a dedicated pipeline of talent to sustain the UK’s nuclear capability.

It is in collaboration with industry leaders such as this, that we are investing in new training opportunities to create graduates with the skills to improve business services and communities all around the world.

This commitment to ensuring we are partnering for impact is further demonstrated through our recent success in the Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF).

Published by Research England, the KEF provides a picture of knowledge exchange activity across seven different ‘perspectives’ which cover the ways in which universities engage with society and the economy.

It is extremely positive to see that the University of Derby continues to receive the top ranking of ‘very high engagement’ for Local Growth & Regeneration and CPD/Graduate Start-Ups.

The University’s applied focus and industry engagement is evident in our ‘high engagement’ scores for Working with Business and Public & Community Engagement. Activities such as Innovate UK Knowledge Transfer Partnerships and regionally funded projects have contributed to our KEF success, all of which enriches our curriculum and provides routes to impact for our research.

As a city and county, we are committed to empowering and supporting the next generation of talent, equipping graduates with the skills, knowledge and experiences to make a positive impact on the world. Earlier this year, the very-first Midlands’ Mayor, Claire Ward, who is spearheading the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) was elected, which indicates a positive step forward, providing further focus on skills development across the region. Our Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kathryn Mitchell, is an Associate Member of the EMCCA Board, showcasing our commitment to representing the education sector.

At Derby, we are partnering with our neighbouring institutions, Nottingham Trent University and the University of Nottingham to ensure that our research expertise and knowledge can be harnessed by EMCCA to benefit the region. With our partners, we have played an active role in shaping the vision for the East Midlands Investment Zone and the innovation ecosystem required to deliver the required step-change in our economic purpose as we seek to build a Green Industries economy.

As Chair of the East Midlands Investment Zone Skills Working Group, I am passionate that we help address skills shortages and build a highly skilled workforce capable of boosting economic growth and productivity.

The Cavendish Building, which will be home to Derby Business School, will open in 2025 and further supports this ambition. It is through this, that we are setting a blueprint for how universities can work effectively and meaningfully with industry.

The new seven-storey building will provide a place where our talented students and expert academics can network with, learn from, and inspire business leaders and entrepreneurs. It will be a catalyst for game-changing research and innovation, stimulating conversations and sparking new ideas that have impact around the world.

We recognise that our students of today will work in a future world that we cannot even begin to imagine, which is why, to ensure that we are supporting the future requirements of key sectors, it is critical that we lead the way in impact for industry engagement.

Find out more about the University of Derby at www.derby.ac.uk

Signed

Professor Warren Manning

Provost – Innovation and Research at the University of Derby