Congratulations to colleagues from across Newcastle University Business School who have been recognised in this Newcastle University's 2025 Engagement and Place Awards. The awards recognise colleagues and students behind the many innovative collaborations between the University, its external partners, and the communities it serves.

These collaborations enrich education and research across the University and beyond. They are vital in helping to bring value to the social, cultural, and economic wellbeing of the city, region, and across the globe.

The Business School has three entries in the shortlist, in the following categories:

Engaging for Economic Benefit 

• Fiona Thompson and Jane Brown: For Business Community Engagement through working with 109 live clients who have benefitted from working with our students
• Sarah Carnegie, the Business Partnerships team, Graduate Outcomes team and Business School Careers Consultants: For the Bridges Internship Scheme which connects talented students with small local businesses through fully funded internships

Inclusive Education, Lifelong Learning and CPD

• Rebecca Casey and NICA: For Digital Transformation for Social Good, a project which empowers students to address real-world challenges through immersive, hands-on learning.

Congratulations to our three entries on the shortlist - they showcase their brilliant contributions to the School and University.

Dr Fiona Whitehurst, Associate Dean Engagement and Place, said: “We are delighted that we had three entries shortlisted for this year’s Engagement and Place Awards. Other colleagues submitted very high quality entries that were not shortlisted, and our congratulations go to them too. The record number of entries the Business School submitted this year, shows that we are engaging with an increasingly wide range of partners, and we look forward to continuing this impactful work”

More about the entries

The Bridges Internships Scheme, with Sarah Carnegie, the Business Partnerships team, Graduate Outcomes team and Business School Career Consultants provide our talented students the opportunity to connect with small local businesses. Whilst the small business can work towards solving challenges, our students are able to contribute their academic learning into practice gaining valuable real-world experience.

Fiona Thompson, Module Leader of MKT2010 (Integrated & Digital Marketing Communications) and MKT3097 (Marketing Consultancy Project) wished to create an authentic real-world learning experience. To support this, Fiona and Jane have brought in 109 different organisations across two modules in the Business School, transforming the undergraduate learning experience for over 1300 students in the last 7 years. The live client projects last from three to six months and provide our students with opportunities to work with local businesses during their studies.

Fiona said: “I am delighted to have been nominated for this prestigious Newcastle University Engagement and Place Award 2025. I am so pleased that not only 109 different organisations have benefited from our Live Client projects, but over 1300 Marketing students have also benefited from the real-world experience and employability skills these Live Client projects provide.”

Rebecca Casey, Module Leader for Digital Transformation for Social Good, partnered with National Innovation Centre for Aging (NICA), Thoughtworks and PROTO, leveraged digital technologies to address social challenges. Students have been working in teams to develop prototype digital services addressing challenges with wellbeing, independence and social connection for older adults, sponsored by Nic Palmarni, Director of NICA. Thoughtworks helps the students to understand how agile methodologies can be applied to social good projects. Students had a digital service jam,  which is where students work in teams to provide prototype solutions, a creative and immersive experience. PROTO provides access to immersive technology like virtual production, students had a masterclass on immersive video production.

The shortlisted entries show the Business School’s brilliant contribution to Engagement and Place. We are proud to celebrate these achievements and look forward to seeing how our colleagues will continue to incorporate this into research and teaching, helping to shape the future of our University and the local community.