28.05.25

We’re proud to share a brilliant example of collaboration in action. Several Make UK members—including Ideal Heating / Groupe Atlantic, Magnomatics, Jepson & Co Ltd, Agemaspark, and Calder Tech—recently partnered with final-year students from the University of York’s School for Business and Society on consultancy-style projects designed to tackle real-world business challenges.

From sustainability and supply chain analysis to market exploration and customer segmentation, students brought fresh thinking and academic rigour to the table.

“This year, the projects set by Make UK members have been impressively diverse and highly relevant to today’s business landscape,” said Professor Peter Ball, University of York. “Students tackled complex, real-world problems with creativity and rigour.”

For Magnomatics, the collaboration delivered more than just ideas—it shaped their operational strategy. “The projects required thinking that challenged our status quo,” said Joe Kitchen, Operations Director. “We now have recommendations shaping project execution in Q2 and Q3 of 2025, and our teams have gained new insight and methodologies.”

Jepson & Co Ltd also saw real value: “The students came up with well-considered and commercially viable solutions to our complex problem,” said Jo Hacket. “We value the creativity and out-of-the-box thinking that comes with working with them.”

Interested in getting involved? Make UK can help connect you with our Higher and Further Education members across the North, including:

  • University of York
  • Sheffield Hallam University
  • University of Bradford
  • AMRC
  • Newcastle University
  • Sheffield College
  • Blackburn College
  • Blackpool and The Fylde College
  • Nelson and Colne College

Whether you’re looking for project collaboration, T-Level placements, or Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, our education members are ready to support you.

Get in touch with Annette Hobson ([email protected]) or Darren Grantham ([email protected]) to explore the possibilities.