Launching new university will be greatest achievement of Gary Neville’s career

Footballer turned businessman Gary Neville says that launching a new university in Manchester will be the biggest achievement of his career.

The former Manchester United defender is launching his new UA92 university next year in Old Trafford and was speaking at an event for business leaders at the Midland Hotel in Manchester.

The Profile Club held a breakfast for its members and Gary Neville along with Professor Craig Gaskell – the chief executive of UA92 – came along to talk about the ambitious scheme.

Craig Gaskell

The aim of the new university is to give people from all walks of life a chance to study for a degree that will set them on the way to a professional career.

The new university is aiming to do things differently to traditional academia with the focus on preparing under-graduates for the world of work.

Study will be flexible to give people the chance to work and students will also be offered the chance to complete a degree in two years with the aim of keeping the cost of studying to a minimum.

The former international footballer turned TV pundit spoke passionately about his commitment to his latest project.

Gary Neville, who is also involved in a number of property schemes and has launched a hospitality group, said: “The focus is going to be on personal development, each student who comes to UA92 will have a personal coach.

“We were taught about developing as people by Sir Alex at Manchester United. My aim is to achieve more in the next 25 years of my life as I managed in the last 25 years.

“If we can help improve young people’s lives and help them get into work then I will see that as the greatest achievement of my life.”

The new university will be next to Lancashire’s cricket ground and partners in the project include the cricket club and Lancaster University. Professional services firm KPMG are also involved in the ambitious project

Gary Neville said: “We are trying to do something completely different. What we are trying to do could completely change the Higher Education sector.

“This has always been an industry facing project and the aim is to help young people get into the world of work.

“This is not going to be easy, any start-up has its challenges and problems but we are going to give it our very best shot.

“We want to do things differently, the aim is to create something that is completely new. We are also looking at working with partners across the city and we want to get as many businesses as possible involved.”