The donation will help NMITE tackle Britain’s engineering graduate shortfall
The New Model In Technology & Engineering (www.nmite.org.uk), Britain’s first new “greenfield” university in 40 years, is delighted to announce a £50,000 donation from HEINEKEN, Britain’s leading cider, beer and pub business.
The donation is the first NMITE Corporate Partnership donation, and reflects the momentum that has built behind the project, which is currently going through the Treasury Green Book process to enable it to receive substantial government support in the Autumn.
NMITE, launched in 2015 with the support of a strong coalition of leading universities, engineers, businesspeople and politicians, aims to open its doors to the first 300 students at a purpose-built city centre campus in Hereford in September 2019.
David Sheppard, Co-Leader of the Development Team, said: “NMITE seeks to radically change the way engineering and related subjects are taught in Britain. Its aim is to help tackle the growing shortage of graduates who combine such degrees with the broad range of additional applied analytical thinking, innovation, interpersonal and leadership skills that employers seek.
“We are delighted to have had strong interest and support from HEINEKEN, which owns HP Bulmer Ltd, a major employer of engineers in Herefordshire. Bulmers is the first of our Corporate Partners. As a Bronze partner they will be helping start the new university and will also fund a three-year full fee scholarship from 2019. We hope to welcome more engineering employers to join one of our five partnership schemes.”
Alexander Brinkerink, Cider Plant Manager for HEINEKEN, said: “We are really pleased to support the New Model in Technology & Engineering, an initiative that has the backing of a wide range of academics, engineering bodies, local government, politicians and businesses. As a major employer in Hereford and across the UK, we are keen to help provide skills and opportunities for young people. After all, they could be the next generation of cider makers.”
The donation was presented to Karen Usher, Co-Leader of NMITE’s Development Team, by HEINEKEN’s Alexander Brinkerink, Head of Site at the HP Bulmers factory “The Cider Mills” at Plough Lane, Hereford on Friday (6 July) – both in the accompanying photos.
