The University of Central Lancashire has once again maintained a leading position in the higher education sector for its engagement with public and third sector organisations and regeneration and growth in the local area.
This national recognition comes from the results of the annual Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF), published today (18 September). The Framework measures how higher education institutions serve society and the economy from seven different perspectives and highlights how they can improve to maximise the benefits they bring from public funding.
KEF 2024 places the University of Central Lancashire in the top 20% of English Higher Education Institutions (HEI) in the areas of local growth and regeneration; working with the public and third sector; and continuous professional development (CPD) and graduate start-ups.
"This project not only demonstrate the practical impact of our KTPs but also showcases our capability to deliver bespoke solutions that address the specific needs of businesses. "
— Martin Blunt, Head of Enterprise and Engagement
The University has maintained this excellent standing from last year and has also strengthened its engagement with businesses around research and knowledge exchange.
A notable example of this is a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) with Service Sport (UK) Limited, a company based in Chorley serving high-profile clients such as Manchester United, Pure Gym, and the Ministry of Defence. Through this KTP, the University assisted Service Sport in transitioning from purchasing parts overseas to manufacturing them in-house using additive manufacturing technologies. This shift significantly reduced inventory levels, shortened client turnaround times, and lowered part costs, while also enhancing supply chain control and supporting business expansion and diversification.
Martin Blunt, Head of Enterprise and Engagement at the University of Central Lancashire, commented: “This project not only demonstrates the practical impact of our KTPs but also showcases our capability to deliver bespoke solutions that address the specific needs of businesses.
“Our KEF results underscore our strong performance in business engagement, collaborative research and development using our academic expertise. They reflect our ongoing commitment to bridging the gap between theory and practice, driving innovation, and generating value for both academia and industry.”
The University has also been rated as ‘above average’ for almost all measurements in its ‘cluster’, which places HEIs in similar size and scope for meaningful comparison, and is one of only 11 institutions overall that has achieved the top levels of engagement in at least six of the perspectives.
"We are proud to be an anchor institution within Lancashire and Cumbria and serve our many stakeholders. "
— Professor StJohn Crean, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise
Professor StJohn Crean, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise, said: “It’s encouraging to see that we have maintained the excellent results achieved in last year’s KEF results and improved in our engagement and research with businesses in the region.
“We are proud to be an anchor institution within Lancashire and Cumbria and serve our many stakeholders. Whether that be through education, research and training initiatives or working with employers on regeneration and skills boosting by offering more than 1,900 degree apprentices on 30 programmes across a wide range of sectors.”
Over the last few years, the University of Central Lancashire has invested heavily in regeneration. The £200 million Masterplan has transformed areas of the City and with the new School of Veterinary Medicine due for completion in 2025, this additional investment will bring world-leading facilities to Preston that will in turn contribute to the regional economy and bring skilled jobs to the area.
The KEF is published annually by Research England and continues to be a unique tool for universities to understand and improve their performance.
Businesses looking to work with the University of Central Lancashire on initiatives to drive growth and innovation can email or call 01772 895500.