Report documents how we’ve created positive social change

A report demonstrating social impact has been released by the University of Northampton.

The Social Impact report for 2016-2017 highlights some of the ways in which the University is creating positive social change through its socially innovative and impactful activities and initiatives.

Some of the key highlights and findings from the report include:

• 1,500 children and young people from 19 primary and 13 secondary schools across Northamptonshire attended our first annual Big Bang Near Me event
• The University has signed the Armed Forces Covenant promising to support its employees who are currently serving as reservists, cadet force instructors, or have previously completed a full-time military career
• The University’s Enterprise Club has helped staff, students and graduates set up 43 new social enterprises and businesses in 2016-2017
• 755 local people employed on the Waterside Campus site through the project supply chain, with 40 local suppliers engaged with the project, and over 200 new jobs have been created for people in Northamptonshire as a result of the project
• Institute for Social Innovation and Impact’s Social Impact Matrix has been turned into an online tool that can be distributed globally
• Inspire2Enterprise and Northamptonshire Growth Hub have supported a total of 2,040 clients.

Professor Simon Denny, Executive Dean for Research, Impact and Enterprise, said: “The report highlights the positive and lasting difference that we are making in the communities locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.

“This year, we achieved the Social Enterprise Gold Mark, as well as achieving ‘Gold’ in the government’s Teaching Excellence Framework, which has provided us with even more opportunities to do ‘good stuff’.

“We are now a less than year away from moving to Waterside Campus, and will ensure that we follow the same principles of delivering social impact at our new home.”

You can download the report here.