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Durham University and Microsoft launch AI Skills Centre of Excellence 

Professor Karen O’Brien, Vice-Chancellor and Warden, Durham University and Darren Hardman, Corporate Vice President and CEO, Microsoft UK and Ireland at the official opening of the AI Skills Centre of Excellence.

Durham University and Microsoft have officially opened a new AI Skills Centre of Excellence where businesses and communities, and University staff and students, will be able to develop the essential skills needed for a future supported by Artificial Intelligence.

The Centre will bring together expertise, training, tools, and support to help people of different backgrounds and levels of experience build confidence in using AI in ways that are practical, responsible, and relevant to global and local challenges.

The launch brough together partners from Durham County Council, North East Mayoral Strategic Authority, Confederation of British Industry and regional businesses.

In its first stage, the Centre will contribute to preparing Durham University students and graduates for a rapidly evolving job market, and support University staff to explore new ways of enhancing teaching, learning, research and professional services through AI.

In future phases, there will be opportunities for businesses, public sector agencies, and community partners to engage with emerging technologies, helping build and strengthen AI capability and growth across the region. The physical hub will be a lively centre offering workshops, training events, and other sessions focused on AI and associated technologies. 

The Centre will become part of how Durham University is driving digital innovation and AI development in North East England, including through the North East AI Growth Zone, and its partnerships with the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority, Durham County Council, and others.

Professor Karen O’Brien, Vice-Chancellor and Warden of Durham University, said: “Durham graduates are highly sought after by employers because of how well we prepare them for the world of work. AI is changing the workplace, and this pioneering partnership with Microsoft, as well as other initiatives we are taking, will help our students continue to innovate, lead, and excel.

“This partnership also has huge potential to benefit our local businesses, agencies, and communities, and we will say more about how they can engage and learn as the Centre develops.”

Darren Hardman, Corporate Vice President and CEO, Microsoft UK and Ireland, said: “I believe AI can create new opportunities for young people across the country, no matter their background or where they grew up. This long-term commitment to building AI skills for students, staff and the wider community is a demonstration of Durham University’s leadership and contribution to achieving that goal. I know I speak for the whole team when I say Microsoft is proud to partner with the University and support the development of this AI Skills Centre of Excellence as it serves people in the North East for years to come.”

Through the Centre, Durham University and Microsoft will work together to:

  • Support students in developing AI skills valued by employers.

  • Help staff enhance teaching, research and ways of working supported by AI.

  • Create learning and development opportunities for businesses and public sector organisations.

  • Promote responsible, inclusive and equitable access to AI skills and technologies.

  • Contribute to regional and national AI capability and economic growth.

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Magnitude Biosciences secures £1.3m to scale breakthrough drug discovery platform

Magnitude Biosciences secures £1.3m to scale breakthrough drug discovery platform

NETPark-based Magnitude Biosciences secures £1.3 million to scale drug discovery platform

Magnitude Biosciences, a Durham University spinout based at NETPark, has secured £1.3 million to accelerate the commercialisation of its VivoScan™ drug screening platform.

The specialist contract research organisation will use the investment to scale its technology, expand its work with global pharmaceutical companies, invest in new equipment and automation, and recruit additional staff.

Developing faster approaches to drug discovery

Magnitude Biosciences works with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to identify potential treatments for ageing, longevity and neurodegenerative diseases.

Its VivoScan™ platform provides high-throughput drug screening using C. elegans, a microscopic nematode worm, as a biological model. It allows researchers to evaluate potential treatments in a whole organism at an early stage of the drug discovery process.

By combining this model with advanced imaging, machine learning, artificial intelligence, automation and robotics, Magnitude Biosciences can produce detailed biological data in weeks rather than years.

The approach gives researchers a faster and more cost-effective way to assess thousands of compounds while supporting the pharmaceutical industry’s move towards non-mammalian research models.

Dr Fozia Saleem, CEO of Magnitude Biosciences, said:

“Our ambition is to become the first company to provide a platform to screen millions of compounds in a whole organism. This investment in VivoScan™ gives us the opportunity to turn that ambition into reality and fundamentally change the scale and speed at which drug discovery can be done.
“We are building a platform that can move beyond simply screening more compounds. VivoScan™ generates rich, whole-organism biological data that can help researchers understand how potential therapies affect health, ageing and disease. “By making data generation faster and more cost-effective, we will be able to help pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies identify better drug candidates earlier and ultimately accelerate the development of new treatments.”

Finance Durham Fund backs company’s growth

Northstar Ventures led the investment round, committing funding from the North East Spinout Inspire Fund, North East Innovation Fund and Northstar EIS Growth Fund.

The £22.5 million North East Spinout Inspire Fund is backed by the universities of Durham, Newcastle, Northumbria, Sunderland and Teesside, as well as the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority through the North East Fund. It was established to help commercialise research emerging from the region’s universities.

Maven-managed regional funds also participated in the round. These included NPIF II – Maven Equity Finance, part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II, and the Finance Durham Fund, established by Durham County Council and overseen by Business Durham. New angel investors also provided funding.

The investment will also enable Magnitude Biosciences to access a £217,000 Innovate UK Investor Partnership grant.

Cllr Joe Quinn, Durham County Council Cabinet member for planning, investment and assets, said:

“Magnitude Biosciences is a strong example of the ambitious, science-led businesses the Finance Durham Fund was established to support. “This investment will help the company scale its technology, reach more customers and create skilled jobs in County Durham. We are particularly pleased to see that growth taking place at NETPark, where Magnitude Biosciences is part of a growing life sciences community and has access to the specialist space, facilities and connections it needs for its next stage of development.”

Building on investment in the business

The latest funding follows an initial investment from NPIF II in May 2025 and will support Magnitude Biosciences as it responds to growing demand for faster and more predictive approaches to early-stage drug discovery.

Sarah Newbould, Senior Investment Manager at the British Business Bank, said:

“We’re continuing to back the businesses that are driving innovation across the UK economy, with this new funding round helping to bring Magnitude Biosciences’ new technology to market. “With NPIF II providing initial investment in May last year, we’re able to support businesses throughout their journey, fuelling the Government’s Industrial Strategy and ensuring the North East’s life sciences sector continues to thrive.”

Dr Will Cousins, Investment Manager at Northstar Ventures, added:

“The North East continues to generate world-class innovations with the potential to compete on the global stage. Supporting ambitious companies with the capital they need to grow is essential if we are to unlock that potential. “Having worked closely with Magnitude Biosciences throughout its journey, we have seen first-hand the strength of the team, the technology and the opportunity ahead. We are proud to continue backing a business that is helping to shape the future of drug discovery.”

Magnitude Biosciences has delivered more than 120 projects for clients working across drug discovery, health and nutrition, and ageing biology. Its growth at NETPark strengthens County Durham’s expanding cluster of life sciences companies.

Find out more about the Finance Durham Fund and how Business Durham can help businesses access the funding, property and connections they need to grow.

 

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Durham joins £5.3m project to develop laser power technology

A laser pointing to the sky

Researchers in the Centre for Advanced Instrumentation, based at Orbit in NETPark, are helping to develop a pioneering laser power system that could keep high-altitude aircraft operating continuously.

The project has received £5.3m in funding from the Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA) through its Enduring Atmospheric Platforms (EndAP) programme. 

Working alongside Scalable Laser Limited and the University of Glasgow our researchers will help to develop “LIVINGSTON” (which stands for laser diodes and photo-voltaics for enduring atmospheric platform power beaming), an innovative laser power beaming system. 

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East Durham College Celebrates Top 10 National Apprenticeship Ranking as Employer Partnerships and Campus Investment Drive Growth

Heleana student East Durham College

East Durham College has been recognised as one of the country’s leading apprenticeship providers after achieving a 75% apprenticeship achievement rate, significantly above the national average of 65.7% placing the college among the top 10 college providers nationally for apprenticeship achievement.

The latest Department for Education National Achievement Rate Tables also come as East Durham College continues to expand its apprenticeship offer, becoming the fastest-growing college provider of apprentices in the North East based on apprenticeship starts between August 2025 and January 2026 compared with the same period in the previous year.

The achievement reflects the college’s commitment to delivering high-quality training that equips apprentices with the skills, experience and confidence needed to succeed, while helping employers develop the workforce they need for the future.

Scott Bullock, Principal and CEO of East Durham College, said:

“These results are a fantastic endorsement of the hard work and dedication shown by our apprentices, staff and employer partners. To be recognised among the top-performing colleges nationally while also being the fastest-growing college provider of apprentices in the North East demonstrates the strength of our apprenticeship provision and the impact it is having across the region.”

The college works with employers across a wide range of sectors, creating opportunities for learners to gain valuable workplace experience while earning and developing industry-recognised skills.

One example is the college’s Developing Futures partnership with Robertson Homes, which provides students with access to industry masterclasses, mentoring and work experience opportunities across the construction sector. The initiative has already helped learners progress into apprenticeships in areas including brickwork, joinery, electrical installation, painting and decorating, supported by a network of employer partners and supply chain businesses.

The college is also committed to widening participation in apprenticeships and supporting learners into sectors where they have traditionally been underrepresented, including creating opportunities for women pursuing careers in skilled trades such as painting and decorating.

The impact of the Developing Futures Programme can be seen through learners like Heleana, the first Painting and Decorating apprentice recruited through the programme with Paul Bertram Painting & Decorating. Through the programme, she accessed a supported route into industry-led learning, gained valuable hands-on experience, and secured a pathway into a skilled profession.

Reflecting on her journey, Heleana said: “The Developing Futures Programme gave me the opportunity to start a career in painting and decorating with the support and experience I needed to build my confidence. It’s opened the door to a future I’m excited about.” Her success demonstrates how the programme is helping talented individuals access sustainable employment while meeting the skills needs of local employers.

The success comes as East Durham College continues to invest in the future of technical and vocational education through significant developments at its Houghall Campus.

Houghall Campus has already benefited from a previous multi-million-pound investment, completed in 2016 and officially opened in 2017, which delivered industry-standard facilities including specialist animal care centres, agricultural training facilities, STEM laboratories, veterinary nursing facilities, IT suites and one of the region’s leading equine centres. Building on this investment, East Durham College is now transforming Houghall Campus for the future of green and rural skills through a major redevelopment programme, due for completion in April 2027.

The project will create modern, industry-standard learning environments for agriculture, animal management and science, floristry, and environmental management, alongside enhanced agricultural training resources and a new teaching and learning facility.

Designed to reflect the evolving needs of employers and the region’s growing green economy, the redevelopment will strengthen skills, sustainability and opportunity across the North East by supporting training in sustainability, agri-tech and environmental skills that will equip the future workforce.

Scott added:

“Apprenticeships are one of the most effective routes into skilled employment, allowing people to earn while they learn while gaining invaluable workplace experience.

By working closely with employers and continuing to invest in facilities such as those at Houghall Campus, we are ensuring our learners have access to the skills, opportunities and environments they need to thrive.”
 
East Durham College offers apprenticeships across a broad range of sectors, supporting learners at every stage of their career journey while helping employers develop and retain skilled talent. www.edc.ac.uk

 

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Durham University rises to 85th in prestigious QS World University Rankings 2027

People walking down the stairs

Durham University has been ranked 85th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, up nine places from last year.

The QS World University Rankings are widely acknowledged as the most influential university rankings globally. The 2027 rankings, assessed 8,808 institutions, saw Durham enhance its position in the employer reputation, academic reputation, and citations per faculty categories of assessment. 

Durham performed particularly strongly for reputation with employers, ranking 49th – up 15 places. Its reputation for academic excellence was also acknowledged, rising three places, as was its position among the world’s leading universities for sustainability – being placed joint 24th. 

Durham is The Times and The Sunday Times University of the Year, and ranks in the UK’s top five universities. In the Complete University Guide, announced earlier this month, 31 of 32 subjects at Durham were ranked in the top ten in the UK.  

Professor Karen O’Brien, Vice-Chancellor and Warden at Durham University, said: “To rise nine places to 85th in the QS World University Rankings is a tremendous achievement, in an outstanding year for Durham University. 

“That employers rank us among the world’s top 50 universities is particularly important for our students and graduates, indicating the exceptional value that a Durham degree holds in equipping students for work and preparing them for career success.” 

As well as an outstanding education, Durham provides students with exceptional opportunities to enhance their employability through developing their leadership skills and starting new businesses. Its Hazan Venture Lab helps Durham students develop their entrepreneurial skills and incubate new ventures.  

Durham’s top category in the QS World University Rankings 2027 is Sustainability (joint 24th), through which the social and environmental impact of universities as centres of education and research is assessed.   

Durham research is helping society understand and address the pressing challenge of climate change, from ice sheet melting to harnessing geothermal energy; from decarbonising shipping to unlocking the potential of hydrogen.   

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New partnership to boost careers in low carbon energy

Main image shows an aerial view of the Dock90 wind farm, with a ship alongside. Image credit: Principle Power

We’re launching a new regional project designed to strengthen the future workforce for North East England’s growing low carbon and offshore wind industries.

The Low Carbon North: Sustainable Futures initiative is being delivered by our Careers and Enterprise team in partnership with Newcastle University and The Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult. 

ORE Catapult is the UK’s leading technology innovation and research centre for offshore renewable energy. 

Funded through the Northern Net Zero Accelerator, the one-year programme will run from May 2026 until the end of April 2027. 

The project aims to improve graduate retention in North East England while helping businesses build the skilled workforce needed for the transition to employment in the region’s flourishing low carbon economy.  

It will also support long term regional growth by creating a model that could be expanded across the wider higher education sector. 

Supporting regional growth 

The programme will connect Durham and Newcastle students with businesses working across offshore wind, subsea industries and the wider low carbon sector. 

Virtual, employer-led group projects will give students the chance to work on real industry challenges and gain valuable experience.  

Students from a wide range of degree subjects, including Business, Finance and the Sciences are invited to take part. 

The project builds on existing links with industry partners connected to the leading offshore energy sector here in North East England.   

This will help students gain a better understanding of the real world opportunities available in the North East region. 

Helping students explore low carbon careers 

Alongside industry-based projects, the programme will include careers forums, employer panels and networking opportunities.  

These events will help students learn more about careers in low carbon industries and the skills employers are looking for. 

We also want to challenge the idea that low carbon careers are only linked to STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). 

The sector needs people with a wide range of skills and experiences, from project management to communications and finance. 

Student interns from both universities will help shape the programme to make sure activities reflect what students want and need. 

Creating a lasting legacy 

The project will also support university staff and careers advisers from across North East England.  

Colleagues from five regional universities will be invited to take part in careers education events focused on the future of the low carbon sector. 

By bringing together universities, employers and students, we hope to create stronger regional partnerships that continue beyond the life of the project. 

The long-term goal is to create a tested model that improves graduate employability, supports business innovation and helps drive sustainable growth across North East England. 

Main image shows an aerial view of the Dock90 wind farm, with a ship alongside. Image credit: Principle Power