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Lisa Cartwright

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Northern Accelerator recognised as Place-based Knowledge Exchange Initiative of the Year

People accepting the Northern Accelerator Award collection

Northern Accelerator has been awarded the prestigious Place-Based Knowledge Exchange (KE) Initiative of the Year at the PraxisAuril Knowledge Exchange Awards 2024.

Having transformed research commercialisation across the North East and now grown to a collaboration of six universities, Northern Accelerator received the sector award at a ceremony in Bristol on 21 November.  

The recognition celebrates Northern Accelerator’s impactful work in driving economic growth, innovation, and social value through a strong partnership of Durham, Newcastle, Northumbria, Sunderland, Teesside and York Universities.

Translating world-leading research into sustainable business

Northern Accelerator helps founding academics create R&D intensive, high potential spinouts in the North East and North Yorkshire, realising social and environmental impact from research, and helping create more and better jobs. By supporting technology transfer through a combination of training, funding, networking and executive leadership, the programme has significantly boosted the rate of commercialisation of academic research.

The shared vision of the partners, the founders and funders is that the programme will contribute to economic growth in the North East. To date we’ve launched over 50 businesses, with many now based in regional innovation hubs like Newcastle Helix and Durham’s NETPark.

Northern Accelerator is funded by Research England’s Connecting Capability Fund, and by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund through Durham County Council and The North East Combined Authority

Recognition from the knowledge exchange sector

Knowledge Exchange UK (formerly PraxisAuril) is a world-leading professional association for Knowledge Exchange practitioners. They support and enable professional knowledge exchange and commercialisation between universities and business, helping members stand out as the most effective practitioners in their field, anywhere in the world.

Place-based collaboration

The award underscores the growing recognition of the North East as a hub for innovation, research and development. By focusing on place-based knowledge exchange, Northern Accelerator has worked to ensure that the benefits of research commercialisation are felt within the region, contributing to job creation, investment, and regional regeneration.

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Two energy projects to receive £16.8m investment

Exterior of a NETPark building

Two green energy projects we’re involved in have secured a combined total of £16.8m in new financial support.

The North East Technology Park (NETPark) at Sedgefield, County Durham, and the Energy Central Campus at Blyth, Northumberland, will each receive a share of £16.8m North East Investment Zone (NEIZ) funds from the North East Combined Authority (NECA).

It is hoped the investment will further support the development of electric vehicles, battery technology and offshore renewable energy technology in North East England, creating thousands of new jobs.

More about NETPark

NETPark is one of the UK’s premier science and technology parks, with 40 companies employing 700 people. We have been central to its development, and it’s home to Orbit, our enterprise zone. 

The NEIZ investment of £11.3m will support NETPark’s £100m Phase 3 development.

More about Energy Central Campus

Energy Central Campus (ECC) is focused on developing the skills and talent to make Blyth a centre of excellence for the renewable energy sector.

The NEIZ investment of £5.5m will go towards the Energy Central Institute, an education and innovation facility within the ECC. We are a key partner in the ECI, and recently joined ECC board.

The North East is a manufacturing powerhouse, with a proud heritage, and our investments are unlocking jobs and training for local people in the industries of the future. 

Kim McGuinness, North East Mayor

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Access and Participation: our ambitious plan for a more inclusive Durham 

Students outside of Durham University

We’re introducing an ambitious new plan to improve equality of opportunity in higher education and make Durham more diverse and inclusive than ever before. 

Our new Access and Participation Plan (APP) has been approved by the Office for Students, the independent regulator of higher education in England, and will come into effect from September.  

It builds on our ongoing drive to give everyone fair opportunity to reach university and thrive in their studies. 

We’ve already made great strides in this area, with one in five of our new undergraduate students joining us through a scheme aimed at widening access to education. 

This new APP represents a step change in how we’re identifying and encouraging students from underrepresented groups to study with us. 

We have identified specific groups of students who face extra challenges in accessing and participating in higher education, and we’ve developed targeted support to help them progress.  

There are tailored plans to support mature students, and those with mental health difficulties, and we’re also working hard to make sure everyone feels part of a diverse university community.  

Supporting the student journey  

Our Space to Explore Potential (STEP) programme helps Black-heritage students to explore their own potential, and all that Durham has to offer.  

Our 17 colleges each foster unique communities that play a vital role in supporting students throughout their time with us. 

Beyond their studies, our students can also engage in over 1,000 student-led clubs and societies, enriching their university experience with a diverse range of opportunities.   

Meanwhile, initiatives such as our annual Celebrate Science festival and museums and outreach work have engaged with thousands of pupils over the years.   

We support our students with mental health services, transition programmes, and financial aid – and when it’s time to plan for the future, we provide career advice, work experience and mentoring to help our students take their next steps with confidence.  

Setting goals   

Of course there is still work to be done, and our APP sets out seven key objectives to ensure we’re creating an even more diverse student community. 

We are committed to increasing access, improving ethnic diversity, reducing attainment gaps, enhancing continuation rates, supporting mature students, achieving mental health equity and promoting inclusivity.  

We want to raise the proportion of Black heritage and Asian heritage students studying at Durham and we’re working hard to increase the proportion of economically disadvantaged students studying with us. 

Reducing the attainment gap for students reporting mental health disabilities is also an important element of our work. 

Our progress in these and other areas will be continually evaluated to ensure we’re on track to achieve our goals.  

Removing financial barriers  

Financial support is a key part of our plan, and we’ve improved our grant system to help families who might not qualify for the highest level of financial aid but still feel the squeeze.  

Extra funds are being made available for students facing sudden money problems and for those who struggle to afford to fully take part in University activities.   

Our Durham Grant Scheme is one of the most generous grant schemes in the sector and we’re now able to support even more students by broadening the eligibility criteria.     

A range of targeted scholarships and funding options are also available to support underrepresented groups.  

This includes the upcoming launch of a new scholarship funded by our current Chancellor, Fiona Hill, for students from North East England.  

Working with our students  

Our students themselves will be an important part of making these plans work.    

We’re encouraging students to get involved by joining advisory boards, becoming outreach ambassadors, or representing their peers on important committees.   

By closely collaborating with our students, we can ensure that the changes we make are relevant and effective.   

University student

Everyone deserves fair opportunity to reach their full potential. Our new Access and Participation Plan will make Durham more diverse and more inclusive than ever before. If you’re considering your study and career options, think: Durham.

Professor Karen O’Brien
Vice-Chancellor, Durham University
University student

Durham University’s new Access and Participation Plan marks a significant step forward in ensuring that students from all backgrounds have the opportunity to benefit from and thrive in higher education. A diverse student body enriches learning, fosters innovation, and strengthens our communities. Importantly, we must also ensure young people from the North East are able to follow their goals of studying at Durham – finances should not be a barrier to them fulfilling their higher education dreams. I look forward to seeing the positive impact this will have for students from our city and region

Mary Kelly Foy
MP for City of Durham

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Financial Times Top 10 UK Business School

An office scene with the text Top 10 in the UK

We’re proud to announce we have again been ranked in the UK Top Ten by the Financial Times.

The FT’s European Business School Ranking 2024 lists the best business schools in Europe based on the combined performance of programme-specific FT rankings including the MBA and MSc Management. 

Our School ranked 10th in the UK and 58th overall in Europe – in an increasingly competitive market we maintained our UK standing and slipped one place over last year’s ranking. This follows a jump from 66th in 2022.  

Durham’s position was determined by the 2024 Financial Times rankings for MBA programmes and MSc Management programmes. The School’s flagship programme, the Durham MBA (Full-time) ranked 26th in Europe (8th in the UK, 78th in the world) and alumni from the programme secured an average salary of $120,000 three years after graduating, and see an average salary increase of 89% – which is the sixth-highest of all UK business schools.   

Executive Dean of Durham University Business School, Professor Cathy Cassell, said: 

“Durham University Business School’s programmes are all taught and delivered by world-class and internationally-diverse faculty. The FT’s survey places us 6th in the UK for faculty diversity and 18th in Europe. Their leading research underpins the learning experienced by our students and positions us in the FT’s Global Top 100 Aggregated Research Ranking. This goes to show the quality of all of our programmes, and the Business School generally.” 

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Innovative eye-tracking technology to improve museum visitor experience

A man using eye tracking technology

Our researchers are part of an exciting new project working to enhance museum visitor experience by using ground-breaking eye-tracking technology.

Innovative eye-tracking technology

Professor Andy Beresford, from our School of Modern Languages and Cultures, is leading a team conducting experiments at the Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle, County Durham.

One hundred visitors who volunteer to take part will wear state-of-the-art eye-tracking glasses. The glasses will record their eye movements as they move around the galleries, as well as how long they have spent gazing at a particular display.

On returning the glasses, participants will be asked to complete a questionnaire about their visit.

The researchers will analyse the data from the glasses, and the questionnaires to understand if there is a distinction between the memory and the physical reality of each person’s gallery experience.

The second part of the study, taking place at the University, will involve 50 volunteers taking part in a fixed eye-tracking experiment. This will test the usefulness of the label information provided for a particular object or display and will show whether they need to be rewritten or redesigned.

Improving the museum’s visitor experience

It is hoped that the results will inform potential changes to improve the experience of visitors at the museum and how it presents its displays.

By looking at the data gathered from the two experiments we’ll be able to make recommendations on how and in what ways the visitor experience could be improved by remodelling and recontextualising the artworks on show in the Picture Galleries at The Bowes Museum.

Professor Andy Beresford, Durham University’s School of Modern Languages and Cultures

Find out more

With sections regularly featuring in the top five in national league tables such as the Good University Guide and the Complete University Guide by Subject, our School of Modern Languages and Cultures offers expertise in a wide range of subjects, including language, literature, cultural history, cinema and visual culture, and translation. In the Complete University Guide by Subject 2024, it was ranked 4th for German, 5th for Asian Studies and Italian and 6th for French. 

The School also hosts the BA in Visual Arts and Film and MA Visual Culture. It has forged a ground-breaking partnership with the British Film Institute (BFI), bringing students the unique opportunity to learn from industry experts along with University-wide access to the BFI Player. 

Feeling inspired? Visit our Modern Languages and Cultures webpages for more information on our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. 

Durham University is a top 100 world university. In the QS World University Rankings 2024, we were ranked 78th globally. 

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Save the date! Lumiere Durham returns in 2025

Lumiere artwork projected onto Durham Cathedral

Tuesday 28 January 2025. Artichoke has announced dates for Lumiere Durham 2025, the UK’s light art biennial. The hugely popular event will take place over three evenings this autumn, from Thursday 13 to Saturday 15 November 2025.

Produced and curated by Artichoke and commissioned by Durham County Council, Lumiere has attracted over 1.3 million visitors and boosted the local economy by more than £43 million since it began in 2009. Today it stands as a landmark event in the cultural calendar of the North East, and has put city and county on the international light art map.

For Lumiere’s 9th edition, a brand new programme promises to feed the imagination with magic and joy, transforming the city into an illuminated art gallery with spectacular artworks and exclusive commissions by UK and internationally renowned artists. This year, Lumiere 2025 will continue to enchant visitors and locals in a revised format, taking place over three evenings, from Thursday to Saturday, 13-15 November.

Beyond the lights, Lumiere’s established Learning & Participation programme and volunteering opportunities have benefitted over 14,000 local people and schoolchildren since 2009, inspiring ongoing artistic ideas and providing learning resources across the county. Lumiere 2025 offers new opportunities for the local community to take part in and develop skills, showcasing County Durham’s creativity on a national stage.   

Inviting local businesses and individuals to make a difference

This year, with rising costs and funding challenges, the support of local businesses and individuals is more vital than ever.

Lumiere has always been a shared achievement—its success built on the commitment of visionary businesses. With arts funding under pressure, now is the time to invest in one of the North East’s most cherished cultural events. By partnering with Lumiere, businesses will gain multiple benefits that sponsorship of a world-class event can bring, as well as leave a legacy of opportunity, joy and inspiration for County Durham and beyond.

Artichoke is thrilled to welcome new major partners, Prima Cheese and Northern Powergrid, alongside longstanding supporters such as Durham University, EMG Solicitors, MGL Construction, Radisson Blu Durham, New College Durham, and Ramside Hall Hotel and Spa to help bring this landmark event to life in 2025.

For the third consecutive year, Point North (formerly County Durham Community Foundation), will amplify Lumiere’s impact through Northern Lights, their match fund, increasing selected sponsorships and contributions by up to 50%. It’s an incredible way for businesses to multiply their investment and directly support local communities to fight poverty and enrich lives across the North East.

There’s still time to play an exciting part in the Lumiere journey. Get in touch with Artichoke’s Development Director, Ma’ayan Plane (Ma’ayan.Plane@artichoke.uk.com), to help Lumiere shine even brighter in 2025.

Artistic Director of Artichoke, Helen Marriage says: “We’re so excited to be returning to Durham to programme the next edition of Lumiere, the landmark cultural event in the North East. As well as providing a unique platform for some of the world’s greatest artists, and giving everyone the chance to see great art, Lumiere has been consistent over the years in bringing tangible benefits to the local community, building the local economy and training local kids. It is made is possible only because of the amazing partnerships forged over the years with Durham County Council, Arts Council England and Durham’s local institutions and businesses who all invest in the event to bring wider benefits to the community.”

Cllr Amanda Hopgood, Leader of Durham County Council and portfolio holder for Culture, Creative, Tourism and Sport at the North East Combined Authority says, “Lumiere is a shining example of the transformative power of culture on our communities, our businesses and our wider economy. It has played a crucial role in establishing Durham as the Culture County, inspiring similar events across the world and continuing our long-standing tradition of innovation and investment in the arts. From the thousands of residents who have taken part in outreach activities, to the businesses that have benefited from the increased footfall, to the 1.3 million people who have been blown away by the spectacular light installations – the positive impact of Lumiere cannot be overstated.

“We’re delighted to commission Artichoke and to work with partners including Arts Council England and generous sponsors to bring Lumiere to County Durham once again in 2025.”

Lumiere Durham is a central pillar of The Culture County, the long-term creative regeneration strategy born out of the Durham 2025 UK City of Culture campaign.

To be the first to know what’s happening and learn about the 2025 programme, sign up to the newsletter at the event website, Lumiere-festival.com.

Sustainable Lumiere

Artichoke is committed to addressing climate injustice and reducing the environmental impacts of all the work it produces. Lumiere artists pledge to support this work through the design of artworks, making responsible use of materials and ensuring works produced contribute to the circular economy through future touring. Key technical suppliers are chosen based on their sustainability commitments and work together with Artichoke to challenge established practice and plan the operational aspects of Lumiere as sustainably as possible. Continuing our work with industry experts, A Greener Future, Lumiere Durham 2025 will undertake a carbon impact assessment of the event to examine the success of the planning and to enable future editions of the light art biennial to further reduce emissions. 

Local businesses and other partners already supporting include long-time Lumiere supporters as well as exciting, new first-time partnerships.

Lumiere 2025 supporters

Commissioning partners

  • Arts Council England
  • Durham County Council

Major partners

  • Durham University
  • Point North

Event partners

  • Radisson Blu Hotel, Durham
  • Ramside Hall Hotel

Major supporters

  • EMG Solicitors
  • Northern Powergrid
  • Prima Cheese
  • MGL Group

Event supporters

  • New College Durham
  • Sir James Knott Trust
  • National Trust

Supporters

  • Darlington Building Society 5% Pledge Fund
  • Savoy Educational Trust
  • Hadrian Trust

Silver Business Club Members

  • Hargreaves Services
  • Delta Hotels by Marriott Durham Royal County
  • Lumley Castle