Universities can be fertile grounds for innovation, with many young minds eager to turn their studies into real-world careers.
But which universities have produced the most entrepreneurial talent? And which uni has created businesses turning over a mammoth £10.3 billion?
Experts from money.co.uk have delved into the latest data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
Entrepreneurial universities
University of Wales Trinity Saint David was revealed as the top university for budding entrepreneurs, with 1,067 active firms. Most of these are student startups, but there is also a substantial amount in all other categories.
The University of Central Lancashire and Kingston University are next on the list, with 862 and 718 active firms respectively.
Of the top ten, most have dedicated business schools. While the University of the Arts, London, lacks a traditional business school, it is home to Fashion Business School. The other arts-focused institution in the top ten, the Royal College of Art, doesn’t have its own business school but partners with the London Business School.
The University of Wales Trinity Saint David also tops the list of universities producing businesses that last the longest, with 902 firms surviving at least three years, despite none of them receiving external investment.
Social enterprises
Social enterprises aim to generate profit while addressing social issues, improving communities, people’s life quality, or the environment. They often re-invest their surplus into the business or the community, significantly contributing to the local economy or society.
The University of Bedfordshire ranks first in this list, with 105 active social enterprises, indicating a strong emphasis on social entrepreneurship in its curriculum and student activities. Recently, the university has hosted a series of webinars with Ukrainian social entrepreneurship educators and practitioners to allow them to develop.
The London School of Economics and Political Science and The University of Northampton follow, with 55 and 39 active social enterprises, respectively. These institutions have special programs to help support those who want to start their own social ventures.
Turnover & investment
Startups formed at the University of Cambridge lead in terms of turnover and attracting the highest investments, with a total turnover of £10.3 billion and receiving £2bn in external investment.
The University of Oxford follows in the external investment category, with £1.3bn. University College London stands third with £708.9m, while the University of Dundee, ranking fourth, received £562.6m. King’s College London closes the top five with £348.8m.
Which uni’s spinouts employ the most people?
The University of Cambridge leads the list with 22,908 full-time employees working across all categories, with a significant number of staff (9,896) and formal spinouts not owned by the HEP (8,585).
The University of Oxford follows this with 6,871 full-time employees, most of whom are employed in spinouts with some HEP ownership (5,443).
Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine and Queen’s University Belfast follow closely, employing 6,449 and 3,916 full-time staff across all categories, respectively. University College London and Kingston University also exhibit significant numbers, totalling 3,899 and 2,007 full-time employees.