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Special award for University Director

14/11/2008
Dr Alan Collins
 
Dr Alan Collins, Director of Business Development and Enterprise, was presented with a Special Award for Outstanding Contribution to Knowledge Transfer Activities at the annual Lord Stafford Awards on Thursday (NOV13).
 
Hundreds of regional business people, organisations and University staff attended the ceremony at Worcester Cathedral. The awards showcase the successful relationships between business and universities in the West Midlands.
 
Dr Collins, who is based at Telford Campus, has played a key role in securing £50 million for nearly 50 Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, which allow companies to benefit from the skills of recent high-quality graduates, and regeneration programmes.
 
These have benefited around 5,000 businesses, safeguarded more than 8,000 jobs and generated sales worth more than £200 million.
 
He said: "I am delighted to have received the award. It is a testament to the support I have received not only from my staff within the department of Business, Development and Enterprise but from the many others throughout the University of Wolverhampton and our partner organisations who contributed to the knowledge transfer activities."
 
Originally from South Wales, Dr Collins was a academic at Cardiff University and set up a spin-off company before he joined the University of Wolverhampton in 1999.
 
He set up its Competitiveness Centre which helped introduce more than 2,000 small and medium businesses to innovative opportunities working with the University.
 
Award patron Lord Stafford said: “Alan’s work to bridge the gap between universities and businesses has been inspirational.”

Further information

The University of Wolverhampton’s Competitiveness Centre delivers and manages all business activity and offers a central contact point for all services to external organisations.
 
The Lord Stafford Awards exist to recognise and encourage the development of collaborative relationships between West Midlands businesses and universities.
 
For more information please contact Emma Kilvert in the Press Office on 01902 322003.
 

For more information please contact the Corporate Communications Team.

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