Employer engagement
The University of Cumbria listens and responds to business and employers and is
developing academic courses that meet the needs of industry and their workforce
—both regionally and nationally.
The Institute of Policing and Criminal Justice Studies Twenty-one students completed the university’s New
was established by the university in partnership with Entrepreneur Scholarship (NES)/Business Start-Up
Cumbria Constabulary. It has now launched a two-year, programme which offers practical help and support to
full-time foundation degree in policing and police studies. those starting a business. The 90-hour course run by the
Cumbria Constabulary has pledged to recruit up to 25 School of Business and Enterprise provides one-on-one
per cent of its annual intake of police officers from our business mentoring and the successful candidates each
policing programme from 200 provided students meet won £,500 start-up funding. Grants are funded through
exacting and rigorous national selection procedures. The the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), Cumbria County
foundation degree in police studies focuses directly on the Council and Chamber of Commerce. Students included
needs of existing Cumbria police officers and support staff Stephanie Hume and Adele Swarbrick who started their
but it will be made available to members of the public own clothes and accessories business and Christine Smith
interested in policing or as a course of study to improve who runs a mobile massage therapy business. Other
their recruitment prospects. In 2009 a three-year Bachelor students have started businesses in IT, plumbing, catering
of Science degree in Criminal Justice is being introduced and gardening.
which will cover criminology, psychology, forensic science,
human rights and the role of the media. The university’s COMET II initiative assists small and
medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the tourism and
The university established the Institute of Logistics and outdoor sectors to increase their business performance
Supply Chain Management in 2008 in association with and to innovate successfully. John and Alison True,
leading Cumbrian firms System Group and Stobart Group. owners of Low Nest Farm, identified a niche market
Developing the Institute is a key strategic development providing facilities for guests who want to bring their
for the university and directly linked to our ambition to dogs on holiday. With COMET funding they received
contribute to the economic regeneration of the North specialist business support to learn how to update
West. By working together with key stakeholders it aims the website regularly, create links and improve search
to develop appropriate managerial skills and to provide engine optimisation. Within days of carrying out these
students with courses that lead to fulfilling careers. A new amendments the number of people visiting the site rose
part-time foundation degree in logistics and supply chain significantly, almost ,600 in six weeks, and the bookings
management will be made available from January 2009. increased dramatically. John said: “Enthusiastic one-
A specialist neurological centre is being developed in to-one support has meant we now have a professional
Carlisle by the university in partnership with Neuro Partners website that is focused on our target market and we’ve
Ltd. It will treat people suffering from Acquired Brain Injury been able to optimise search engines, and best of all,
(ABI) which is caused by road traffic accidents, fighting, I’m now totally in control of the web content.”
accidental falls and strokes. The £5 million investment
will create up to 60 jobs, save patients long journeys to The COMET project has worked with 32 businesses in
treatment centres elsewhere and reduce costs. tourism and the outdoor sector and enables the university
to work hand-in-hand with a partner organisation,
Primasonics International Ltd and the university have Cumbria Rural Enterprise Agency (CREA) which provided
set up a Knowledge Transfer Partnership to help the credible and knowledgeable consultants to assist in the
Penrith company reach new international markets and delivery of interventions.
create new jobs. Academic knowledge and expertise will
boost the company’s strategic international marketing The university’s Business Placements Programme helps to
capability, enabling it to sell existing products into new prepare students and graduates for the working world
markets and also help retain manufacturing jobs in the UK. by organising undergraduate and graduate placements
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships involve three parties, a of up to 3 weeks (part-time or full-time). Past projects
university or knowledge base, a company and an associate. have included working on the development of websites,
University marketing graduate Heather Massey has now re-designing marketing material, streamlining working
been appointed on a two-year contract to oversee the processes and undertaking research. Research shows that
collaboration. students with work experience can expect a higher salary
when they graduate.

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