The Northern Institute of Innovation and Knowledge Exchange will provide a key force in helping to drive innovation forward, here in the North East

Wednesday, 04 May 2016

Institute of Innovation and Knowledge Exchange (IKE)

Economic prosperity and wellbeing relies heavily on new businesses being created particularly those that embrace high tech and offer high value products and services. Such businesses need training, support and guidance in their early stage of development. Innovation, which is the ability to create new economic value and generate social benefit plays a key role in shaping an economy whether local or regional, thus ensuring its vitality and resilience against unforeseen factors – as for example experienced recently in the steel industry.

Tyne Metropolitan College recognised the importance of innovation to large and small businesses as well as individuals in driving regional growth. Last year, the College secured the prestigious accolade of Investor in Innovations – an award that demonstrates the impact of the college’s innovation initiatives on students and local employers. In its quest to strengthen economic development in the North East of England, the College has partnered with the Institute of Innovation and Knowledge Exchange (IKE) to establish the Northern Institute of Innovation and Knowledge Exchange.

Jon Vincent, Principal and Chief Executive of TyneMet College said of the partnership:

“TyneMet is widely acknowledged as a regional leader in delivering forward thinking and innovative strategies that fulfil economic demands. The establishment of the Northern Institute of Innovation and Knowledge Exchange further cements our commitment to sharing innovative practices with employers on a local, regional and international scale.

In the North East, we have a long established history as a region which pioneered and embraced industry, this unique heritage underpins our future and how we focus on skills that matter, by moving forward with current and emerging industries.

By working with employers to collaborate on innovative practice, we can develop our curriculum to precisely suit the requirements of employers, skills in which they can harness, this helps to close the skills gap and provides our future workforce with the necessary qualifications industry demands.”

Prof Sa’ad Medhat, IKE’s Chief Executive said: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to partner with the Tyne Met College. We work extensively with businesses and we know that the common denominator in terms of capability-gap is in innovation. Some of the early offers the Northern Institute of Innovation and Knowledge Exchange will be providing to the North East business community are specialist courses in innovation for professionals and business leaders to energise the region’s appetite for innovation”.

The dates for the forthcoming Innovation Courses are 17-18 May and 15-16 June. In addition to supporting continuous professional development the Northern Institute will also offer consultancy services such as business innovation diagnostics, innovation culture development and accreditation services, as well as professional membership.

Hans Möller of the North East Local Enterprise Partnership said:

“The partnership between Tyne Metropolitan College and NEF to establish The Northern Institute of Innovation and Knowledge Exchange will provide a key force in helping to drive innovation forward, here in the North East.

Colleges, such as TyneMet, play a vital role in helping businesses take maximum advantage of the opportunities innovation offers growing companies. By working with businesses to share information and respond to its wants and needs, they can help to provide the skills and qualifications that are required.

This teamed with the expertise of NEF will help ensure that innovation is firmly on the agenda, influencing the inter-relationship between education, business, and government through research and collaborative networks.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Please find attached an image showing (left to right) Hans Moller (NELEP), Michelle Medhat (IKE), Jon Vincent (TyneMet College), Paul Smissen (TyneMet College) and Professor Sa’ad Medhat (IKE). They are displaying the Innovation Course brochures and in front of them is the Investor in Innovations award.

About TyneMet College
http://www.tynemet.ac.uk
Tyne Metropolitan College is one of the North East’s leading providers for education and training. With an unwavering dedication to achievement through education, the College was the first STEM Assured® college in the region.

TyneMet boasts a number of prestigious accolades and awards whilst upholding excellent links with local and national employers that benefit students through an industry focused curriculum.

The College has a tireless devotion to excellence in learning and was also the first college in the North of England to be awarded the Investor in Innovations standard. In our recent OFSTED report we were awarded ‘Good’; matching the best in the region with rising academic standards, excellent student progression and outstanding employer partnerships.

About NEF: The Innovation Institute
http://www.thenef.org.uk

Established in 2004, NEF brings together the Institute of Innovation and Knowledge Exchange (IKE)http://innovationinstitute.org.uk and the STEM Foundation http://www.stemfoundation.org.uk

The Institute of Innovation and Knowledge Exchange (IKE) is the UK's professional body for innovators. It accredits and certificates innovation practices. We influence the inter-relationship between education, business, and government through research and collaborative networks. The Institute’s Innovation Manifesto highlights its commitment to support the development of innovative people and organisations. IKE’s work is guided by the Innovation Council, which brings together senior business leaders representing different economic sectors. IKE runs think-tanks, conducts research studies, develops new business models and tools and supports organisations to benchmark their strategies and develop their innovation capabilities.

The STEM Foundation is an innovation driven charity that supports improvements in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education, delivers STEM assured provision, offers CPD in new and emerging technology areas, encourages multidisciplinary collaboration, and conducts action research to enable knowledge and technology exchange. Thus, underpinning economic development and strengthening students’ progression and employability. Since 2004, we have benchmarked and supported the transformation of many institutions at all educational levels across many regions. Our efforts so far have positively impacted over 600,000 STEM learners.

Press Contacts

TyneMet College
Laura Brown Laura.Brown@tynemet.ac.uk
+191 2295000 Ext 5158

NEF: The Innovation Institute (IKE)
Michelle Medhat michelle.medhat@thenef.org.uk
+ 44 7720 286633
+44 20 8786 3677