News


Teesside University selected to represent the UK in European enterprise competition

03 October 2018

 

Teesside University is to represent the United Kingdom in a European competition which recognises excellence in entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial endeavours.

(l-r) Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Enterprise and Business Engagement) Professor Jane Turner OBE DL and Business Secretary Greg Clark at the Prosperity UK conference held at Teesside University's campus last month.
(l-r) Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Enterprise and Business Engagement) Professor Jane Turner OBE DL and Business Secretary Greg Clark at the Prosperity UK conference held at Teesside University's campus last month.

The University is the UK finalist in the European Enterprise Promotion Awards (EEPA), which celebrate diverse enterprise projects from across the continent.

Teesside was put forward for the award following its success last month in the 2018 Enterprising Britain Awards (EBA), where it won the Improving the Business Environment category.

The award was given for its work in anchoring economic growth in the Tees Valley, achieving significant and tangible results in helping the region to overcome the loss of key industries.

Carried out in partnership with the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA), the work, involving public and private sector partners, has delivered targeted support seeding new enterprises and helping businesses tackle barriers to economic growth.

In addition to University and TVCA resources, a significant proportion of it has been supported by the European Regional Development Fund.

As a result of its EBA success, Teesside University was among 56 projects from 32 countries going forward to the European level of the competition.

A shortlist of 19 across six categories has now been announced by the EU-level judging panel. Teesside University is competing with entries from Romania and Spain in its category.

Since 2006, the EEPA awards have rewarded excellence in promoting entrepreneurship and small business at a national, regional and local level. Its objectives are to identify and recognise best practice in promoting enterprise and entrepreneurship, creating a greater awareness of the role entrepreneurs play in European society, and encouraging and inspiring potential entrepreneurs.

Our investment and partnership with Teesside University to nurture and develop home-grown talent, highlights our ambition of bringing industry and academia even closer together.

Ben Houchen, Tees Valley Mayor

Pro Vice-Chancellor (Enterprise and Business Engagement) Professor Jane Turner OBE DL, said: 'As an anchor institution in the Tees Valley, driving economic growth is a key part of Teesside University’s mission.

'We are delighted to be able to be selected to showcase our work at European level, and compete on the European stage.

'This caps a fantastic month for us where, as well as our success in the EBA awards and our shortlisting for Times Higher Education Entrepreneurial University of the Year, we welcomed the Business Secretary Greg Clark to our campus for the Prosperity UK conference. The Secretary of State was able to witness first-hand our role in meeting the demands of the Industrial Strategy.'

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: 'This is an outstanding accolade for Tees Valley to be representing the UK. Our investment and partnership with Teesside University to nurture and develop home-grown talent, highlights our ambition of bringing industry and academia even closer together.

'These results are becoming evident and truly paying dividends and once again firmly putting the region on the international map. Tees Valley is truly a place to invest and succeed providing outstanding opportunities to learn, live and work.' EEPA winners will be announced at the SME Assembly in Graz, Austria, between 19-21 November.



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