Award presented to Teesside University by the Queen

The Vice-Chancellor of Teesside University has visited Buckingham Palace to receive a prestigious royal honour on behalf of the University.

Her Majesty The Queen presented the Queen’s Anniversary Prize to Professor Graham Henderson CBE DL at an honours ceremony at the palace.

The prizes are part of the UK’s national honours and are the most prestigious form of national recognition for excellence in higher and further education.

The awards are presented for work at a world-class level and are awarded biennially to only a handful of education institutions.

Teesside University was given the award for its outstanding achievements in supporting enterprise and entrepreneurship in the economy, particularly through digital start-ups.

The University has a strong track record of graduate entrepreneurship and has helped to facilitate a start-up economy and digital super-cluster in the Tees Valley.

Over the past decade, 430 new businesses have been created through the University’s pioneering graduate enterprise and DigitalCity initiatives.

Professor Henderson said: 'It was an absolute honour to be able to accept this prestigious accolade on behalf of the University.

'Entrepreneurship and providing support for business are at the heart of everything Teesside University stands for and it is therefore fitting that we should win our award for this critical aspect of our work.

'The Royal Anniversary Trust describes these awards as the most prestigious form of National recognition open to a UK academic institution, recognising outstanding work at world class level, and the award is therefore a fantastic testament to the fact that the University’s academic expertise and business acumen are recognised as adding exceptional value to business and economic growth here in the North East and beyond.

'Achieving the award will not only give another huge boost to the confidence and motivation of our staff and students but will also be invaluable in helping to promote the work of the University to our friends, stakeholders and partners here in the UK and across the world.' Prior to receiving the award, the Vice-Chancellor led a delegation from Teesside University to a national gala presentation banquet at the Guild Hall in London.

Recipients of the Queen’s Anniversary Prize are entitled to display the prizes logo for a period of four years to signpost their excellence to current and future partners, staff and students.

The prizes scheme is administered by the Royal Anniversary Trust and was established in 1990 with the approval of The Queen and all-party support in Parliament. The assessment process is overseen by the Trust which makes the final recommendations to the Prime Minister for advice to The Queen.

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