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7 Apr 2005 14:00:08
The University of Luton is being praised for helping UK businesses to succeed.
The University’s Basics of Building a Business lectures – B3 as they are known – have been held up as a good example of knowledge exchange.
B3 was used as a case study in a recent national survey of how universities and business are uniting to succeed. The Government’s aim is to boost the UK economy by investing in higher education institutions to engage with businesses and help them become more competitive.
The survey of 164 Universities – the Higher Education – Business and Community Interaction Survey 2002/3 – has shown that the level and quality of interaction between universities and business have generally increased.
Now 89 per cent are offering a single enquiry point for business, and 79 per cent are helping small and medium sized businesses identify the resources they need – such as the business gateway to Luton, the knowledge hub. Turning ideas into business is also on the increase as well as the level of employment created as a direct result of university spin-out companies.
Greg White, Project Manager, for the University’s knowledge hub, said: “This yearly survey looks back at what the universities have done – it includes how much research funding universities have received, how many intellectual property licenses have been granted, and what the business spin-out figures are.
“It’s a huge job to answer this survey but we are very glad we did. It’s great to get national coverage in the survey results from the Department of Trade and Industry and the funding body, the Higher Education Funding Council for England.”
The B3 lectures, specially designed to ‘germinate’ budding entrepreneurs, are open to anyone in the region as well as to all students, researchers and academics within the University of Luton.
There’s also a B3 business competition, run alongside the lectures, for the most promising and well-presented idea with a top prize of £1,000, sponsored by Chamber Business. Successful entrepreneurs who have been through the process of starting up and running their own business deliver the lectures.
The University is now trying to extend the reach of B3 by going out into the local community. A simplified workshop format is being investigated to find future entrepreneurs in areas like Dallow and Biscot in Luton, which are part of neighbourhood regeneration programmes.
“These will be targeted at ethnic minority groups – and will include local entrepreneurs sharing their expertise,” said Karen Wood, Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Manager for the University.
“We are also looking to develop B3 for 16 to 19-year-olds so that we nurture our youngsters through the Connexions service – and we hope to give Further Education colleges more targeted help by giving their more vocational students access to B3-style training,” she said.
For more information on the B3 lectures, e-mail the programme manager Alice Butler at knowledge@luton.ac.uk or telephone the knowledge hub on 0800 328 5334.
Latest news» 2005» Apr» National Survey Highlights University's Role in Business Success
