UCLAN champions start-ups

THE University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN) has been ranked as the top university in the North West and among the top five across England for producing student start-up businesses.

An assessement of the way universities interact with communities found that businesses set up by UCLAN students contribute more than £17m to the Lancashire economy.

The Higher Education Business and Community Interaction Survey (HEBCIS) also found the university was the most “SME-friendly” university in the North West, providing more business support than any other in the region.

According to the research, produced in partnership with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Higher Education Funding Council for England, some 126 student businesses have been set-up at the institution – six times more than its nearest regional competitor.  

Bede Mullen, director of UCLAN’s Knowledge Transfer Service, said: “Supporting new business start-ups in the North West is vital to driving growth in the region. As such, we’re delighted that UCLAN is playing such a crucial role in the development of the regional economy by providing new and established businesses with the support they need to develop and grow.”