Top 10 for the 15th consecutive year

Northumbria University, Newcastle, has been ranked in the UK top 10 for graduate business start-ups based on estimated turnover, according to the Higher Education Business and Communities Interaction (HEBCIS) survey.

Achieving seventh place in the HEBCIS results for the academic year 2022/23 under this metric means the University has now been in the top 10 for graduate start-ups in each of the last 15 years – and has held the top spot in five of those years. The combined turnover last year for Northumbria start-ups exceeded £155 million. At the same time, these businesses generated more than 1,450 jobs during the period – putting the University in 10th positional nationally for the estimated number of jobs created by active graduate start-up firms.

Northumbria was also ranked 21st in the UK for the number of active graduate business start-ups surviving for three years or more. The figures reflect both the enterprise and innovation of the University’s graduates, and the quality of entrepreneurial learning and teaching.

They are also a measure of the support and guidance available for business-minded graduates and students.

Services such as Student and Graduate Enterprise offer help including entrepreneurial skills training, incubation/co-working  space, workshops, mentoring, and specialist advice in areas such as IP/Legal, marketing, Sales, Business Growth and Finance.

Commenting in the results, Graham Wynn, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education) at Northumbria, said: “To rank in the top 10 consistently over so many years is a real mark of excellence in the entrepreneurial teaching, learning and support available at Northumbria, and highlights the creativity, energy and drive of our students and graduates. We were also placed 24th this year on external investment, which is a significant improvement on previous years and a clear indication of the value potential investors see in our graduate businesses.”

For more information, please visit www.northumbria.ac.uk