Santander extends partnership with University

The University’s partnership with Santander has been extended for three years with an award of £58,500 funding for a range of initiatives including employability initiatives and increasing entrepreneurship. Achievements during the previous partnership included help for 62 student start–ups and freelancers and 68 student internships.

The partnership will enable the broadening and strengthening of our joint capability in nuclear thermal hydraulics, new and innovative fuels, nuclear energy systems and co–generation. This work will play an important role in the UK’s ability to deliver on the next wave of low–carbon nuclear technologies, as well as supporting other advances for public benefit such as in transformative health and nuclear medicine. By harnessing both NNL’s and Bangor University’s world–leading facilities and capabilities, we will not only strengthen and maintain existing expertise in the nuclear sector but also ensure we have the people and skills for the UK’s new clear future.

Matt Hutnell, Director, Santander Universities UK, said, “Santander is committed to supporting higher education as well as local communities across the UK. We’re proud to continue our partnership with Bangor University to ensure we can work together in providing even more opportunities which will benefit both students and the local community.”

M–SParc by Bangor University, the first science park in Wales, provides a range of advantages and benefits for innovative businesses and supports the University’s aspiration for greater employability, start–ups, and commercialisation across North Wales. It is a driving force behind innovation in the region and is aiming to diversify the economy, create new career opportunities and help businesses to thrive.

M–SParc launched an ambitious recruitment programme in 2021–22 that offered almost 50 employment opportunities in the science and technology sector. The Skills Academy programme provides opportunities for graduates, people who are under–employed or wish to upskill and those wanting a career change to be placed with companies at M–SParc and the surrounding ecosystem, offering valuable work experience and an opportunity to develop their skills.

Continuing to develop an impressive track record of success in supporting the region’s most innovative start–ups, M–SParc’s accelerator programme, Level Up, awarded £110,000 of support to four businesses in the region. Helping ambitious business owners develop the skills, focus and confidence needed to lead a successful start–up, Level Up offered a comprehensive package of support, guidance and opportunities to nine leading

A five–month programme, Level Up gives ambitious founders exclusive access to expert mentoring, a community of like–minded founders, their own global advisory board with powerful networks and exclusive opportunities for growth. Significant supporters of the programme includes some of Bangor University’s high–profile alumni community who provide mentoring advice. Building on its success the programme continues to give innovative start–ups unrivalled support, with applications being considered for the programme’s second cohort.

A £14,000 Funding for Success grant, established to provide tenants and virtual tenants with additional funds to support growth and develop new routes to market, was awarded to tenants including: Pelly – to create shareholder agreements and receive trademark support, essential work that would be a financial burden for a start–up; PlantSea – to test their seaweed films on industrial lines, taking them a step closer to commercialisation; Fortytwable – to buy a drone, enabling a new agritech focus to the business; and Bleeper Services – creating a full–time job managing their new e–commerce website.