University signs partnership with The Young Foundation

The signing marks the start of a new relationship aimed to further develop the University’s strengths in social enterprise.

The Young Foundation will now base one of its expert Social Entrepreneurs in Residence at the University, making Northampton the first university in the UK to host such a position. The new post, part of Northampton’s move to being a ‘campus without boundaries’, is part of the University’s strategy for helping to deliver radical change and improvement in service development and employment opportunities across Northamptonshire.

Professor Nick Petford, Vice Chancellor of The University of Northampton, explained:

“The signing highlights our commitment to rapidly becoming the UK’s number one university for social enterprise. We are working hard with our partners in the public, private and third sectors to take the opportunities of transforming the provision of some services. Northampton wants to be the University that adds real social value to the community.”

“Our social enterprise strategy consists of three elements: a new student offer; the integration of social enterprise with teaching and learning and research in all Schools/Departments; and significant outreach work in the community. The Social Entrepreneur in Residence is designed to help us with the third element. It is an appointment for the county as well as for the University.”

“The Young Foundation, which has over 50 years’ experience bringing together innovation and entrepreneurship to meet social needs, will play a pivotal role in supporting Northampton’s ambitions.

Joop Tanis, Head of Health Launchpad at the Young Foundation, where the Social Entrepreneur in Residence programme was developed, said:

“By combining social values with business acumen, social enterprises can create innovative and sustainable services, often delivering more for less. We are excited about the opportunity to have one of our Social Entrepreneurs in Residence at the University, placing them in the heart of the local community and adding to the capability of the third and voluntary sector.”