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Business support

  1. Business services
  2. Business support

Business support

We have a dedicated team of business experts. We support businesses of all sizes including SMEs, startups and microbusinesses.

So whether you’re looking to grow, innovate, upskill, or explore R&D, we will connect you with a university-wide network of academic and sector specialists, training opportunities, work-ready students and world class facilities. 

Working together we’ll understand your business, its challenges and opportunities. And through a diagnostic process, your Employer Partnership Manager will lay out a road map of tailored solutions. 

We are an applied university. This means our academic expertise and talent pool of students can make a practical and positive impact on your business.

Speak to our team of experts today.


Business growth 

We help startups scale up with specialist facilities and support.

We provide one-to-one business advice and mentor support to talk about how you work and what you’d like to achieve.

You’ll also get free access to a dedicated workspace with other small businesses and entrepreneurs, so you can make useful connections in the regional business community.



Sector expertise 

We help businesses to innovate with our specialist sector expertise. Our researchers and academics can work with you as consultants, and you can access our facilities for R&D. We also run regular workshops and events for businesses and can help you apply for funding.

We can help you apply our cutting-edge technologies and techniques to your business.


Short-term student resource

Our students can add value to your business through projects and placements. These include standalone projects, 120 hour placements, or full year experiences. They bring key skills, knowledge and insight, supported by our academic staff throughout. 

For specialist skills you can also tap into our pool of creative freelancers to undertake bespoke pieces of project work.



Work-ready graduates

Our students get at least 360 hours of work experience as part of their course. This means they make great recruits for internships and permanent roles. 

We have an SME internship programme with free business consultancy and recruitment advice. We’ll support you throughout the recruitment process with everything from advertising to interviewing.



Upskill your team

Our range of leadership courses upskill your people and bring a fresh perspective, helping your business improve its productivity and resilience. 

You’ll also get free support from our business experts through mentoring and webinars. 

 


Upskill or attract new talent with higher and degree apprenticeships

Our award-winning apprenticeships upskill your staff by combining university-level learning and on-the-job training. You can access over 95% government funding to cover course fees. 

We offer degree-level programmes in a wide range of sectors so your staff gain relevant skills. 


Cutting-edge facilities

We have specialist facilities and spaces for organisations across sectors. From test kitchens to prototyping, packaging and process simulation, you can access our facilities on an ad-hoc, cost-effective basis.



 

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