Corporate partnerships

Companies of all sizes, from multi-nationals to SMEs, are helping to support the University of Leeds.

Such gifts can: 

  • develop new technologies and exceptional graduate talent
  • allow businesses to build their reputation among students, staff and alumni
  • offer opportunities to visibly demonstrate a company’s support for Leeds city and the region
  • enable research advances in areas of shared interest and social impact, such as climate innovation.

At Leeds, we understand that corporate giving reflects a company’s interests and values and is integral to its corporate social responsibility priorities.

Support can be part of broader partnership activities between a company and the University, reflecting a common interest in developing talent and working together for the benefit of the wider community.

Our corporate partnerships

Read about how our corporate partners help us to support the community, develop talent and expand our research.

Supporting the community

Asda Foundation –  transforming the lives of disadvantaged young people

The Asda Foundation is working in partnership with the University of Leeds and national charity, IntoUniversity, to transform the lives of hundreds of disadvantaged young people.

The IntoUniversity Centre in south Leeds, close to Asda’s headquarters, offers support during and after school for children from the age of seven upwards, offering a sustained programme of engagement and pastoral support to raise their academic attainment and help them to reach their goals.

Asda employees have taken the opportunity to mentor students and support them to learn about the business world and develop important career skills.

Find out more about the work of IntoUniversity in this YouTube video.

Developing our talent

Santander Universities – helping all students to succeed

Santander Universities have been supporting the University of Leeds since 2011, helping all students to succeed, regardless of their circumstances.

Focusing on three key areas – education, entrepreneurship, and employability – a tailored package of financial and in-kind support creates a positive impact on Leeds students, particularly those from less advantaged backgrounds. 

This funding helps students boost their career prospects through internships or overseas travel, empowers them to bring their business ideas to fruition and supports their learning with scholarships and bursaries.

Mott MacDonald – developing our engineering talent

Global engineering consultants Mott MacDonald are working with the University to develop our engineering talent and helping us to level the playing field for young people in east and south Leeds.

In this Youtube video, Managing Director, Mike Haigh (Civil Engineering 1981), talks about why they got involved. 

Spark Business Incubator – advice and support for student entrepreneurs

We encourage students to become the entrepreneurial leaders of the future, and thanks to support from the corporate community, we are able to turn their best business ideas into reality. Our Spark Business Incubator gives specialist advice to current students and recent graduates wishing to set up their own business.

Initially supported by Intechnology, the business incubator has proved so successful it is now part of the University’s core funded projects. Alongside this, practical and financial support from partners, including online learning tech start-up, Synap, ensures that student entrepreneurs benefit from advice in product development, accelerator growth programmes and networking

Supporting research

AIA – air quality research in East Asia

The University’s interdisciplinary research networks look at global challenges with fresh eyes, generating ideas and potential solutions.

AIA, the largest independent publicly listed pan-Asian life insurance group, has supported air quality research in Asia.

Air quality issues have long been recognised and this project is identifying solutions to address the causes of air pollution and enable action to improve air quality in Asia, and so benefit the health, longevity and quality of life for current and future generations. 

Work with us

If you are interested in talking to us about how we might work together, please email Katherine Bavage at foundations@leeds.ac.uk.

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