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Teesside University to forge a better future for business

26 March 2015

 

A dynamic new identity has been unveiled for Teesside University’s award-winning products and services for businesses.

The Forge provides a single-point of contact for companies looking to access the University’s business services including R&D, training, leadership development and professional education support.

With its main base at Teesside University’s flagship £13m campus on Central Park in Darlington, now also home to the emerging National Biologics Manufacturing Centre, The Forge will be the ‘front door’ to the University for businesses ranging from start-ups and SMEs to blue-chip multinationals.

Teesside University works with hundreds of businesses every year.

In 2014, it was presented with the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for 'world-class excellence' in the field of enterprise and business engagement. The University has spun out over 400 start-up businesses and also leads DigitalCity which marked its 10th anniversary last year. The Forge will build on this enviable reputation and continue to offer a range of Teesside University’s services including research and innovation, consultancy, knowledge exchange, start-up incubation and mentoring and graduate placement.

The creation of The Forge responds to recommendations made in a government-commissioned review by the Chief Executive of GlaxoSmithKline, Sir Andrew Witty, which said that universities should be drivers of economic growth and “triage” companies’ needs through a single point of contact.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Business Engagement), Professor Cliff Hardcastle, said: 'At The Forge we will use the applied knowledge, innovation and enterprise of Teesside University to work together with business.

'We will offer bespoke services attuned to the needs of each business to help them grow and succeed.

'Whether you need help to apply new ideas or processes to improve productivity and quality or assistance to develop new ambitious strategies for growth or simply support to spin-out an idea into a viable business we can work in partnership to give your business the tools it needs to flourish.'

The Forge was developed following extensive consultation with the University’s business partners as well as staff involved in business engagement.

It examined the strengths of Teesside’s business offer and also what clients wanted from the University.

Laura Woods, Director of The Forge, added: 'By listening to our customers’ needs we have designed a dynamic, flexible approach that will give businesses the right professional support at the right time to help them innovate and grow.

'The Forge will be the place to come for innovative businesses with big ambitions. Our Darlington base is right next to the East Coast mainline and the A1M, which makes us very easy to find.

'Working in partnership, we can use our long experience with business to provide a needs-driven service that makes use of the latest technologies and innovations and adds real value for business clients.'


 
 
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