Nexus joins forces with KPMG
Nexus has joined forces with one of the world’s leading professional services firms, KPMG.
The first of its kind in the North, the collaboration with KPMG aims to offer commercial advice and investment connections to the Nexus community of start-ups, SMEs and entrepreneurs.
Starting in January 2019, Lizzie McCloy, a Senior Manager in KPMG’s Enterprise team, will be working on a one-to-one basis with Nexus members to identify where they need support. She will be providing guidance on topics such as access to finance and international expansion.
Supporting businesses
Lizzie will be working closely with recent Nexus recruits, Chelsea Hardy, Engagement Manager, and Dr Harrison Evans, Collaboration Manager, to support Nexus’ growing community.
Lizzie said: “I’m really looking forward to getting to know the Nexus business community and supporting them in achieving their growth ambitions.
"This is a brilliant opportunity to share leading industry knowledge with emerging businesses and connect them with KPMG’s excellent network and resources.”
The Nexus community
Dr Martin Stow, Nexus Director, said: “This collaboration represents a fantastic opportunity to marry the University’s world-class research and innovation expertise with KPMG’s wealth of business advice and industry experience."
Professor Lisa Roberts, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research & Innovation, added: “This new alliance is another signal of our commitment to work with businesses to ensure they gain access to the incredible expertise, talent and facilities we have at the University and to foster collaborations that ensure our research has economic and societal benefit.”
Unlocking ambitions
Chris Hearld, North Regional Chair for KPMG, said: "This collaboration with Nexus is part of our long-term strategy of embedding ourselves into the regional innovation ecosystem. It is a demonstration of our commitment to building lasting strategic relationships with start-up and fast-growth businesses.
"The SME sector is the growth engine of the UK economy, so by partnering with Nexus we can support these businesses to unlock their growth ambitions, working together with them in a way they may not previously have considered.”
Nexus, due to open early next year, will help high growth businesses gain easier access to the University of Leeds’ expertise, talent and facilities.
Based in a brand new £40m building on the University campus, Nexus will feature state-of-the-art facilities including office and lab space, collaboration areas, event and meeting space and a dedicated team who will be responsible for facilitating productive working partnerships and collaborations.
