NMITE named as Herefordshire’s ‘Knowledge Base’

The New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE) has been officially named as a Knowledge Base in the UK Government’s prestigious Innovate UK Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) programme. This milestone marks an important moment for Herefordshire’s business and skills landscape. NMITE becoming the first institution in the county ever to hold this Knowledge Base status will unlock new opportunities for regional innovation and growth.

This is further proof for Herefordshire of the benefits of having NMITE in its midst, a specialist technical university achieving national recognition. As originally intended, NMITE’s status and growing reputation is now unlocking government support for local businesses, proving the positive knock-on effect of a high calibre academic institution not just for local students but for the wider economy.

KTPs, celebrating their 50th anniversary in 2025, are a flagship UK Government initiative that connects forward-thinking businesses with academic institutions to deliver innovation-led growth. Through the programme, KTP Associates — in this instance, talented NMITE graduates - will be employed by NMITE but embedded in a business to work on strategically important projects chosen by the company. These projects apply cutting edge academic knowledge to real-world challenges, with funding and support from Innovate UK.

Richard Lamb, Knowledge Transfer Partnerships programme manager, said: “In our 50th year, I am delighted to welcome NMITE to Innovate UK’s Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) Programme. I am sure that businesses will find its practical, applied, hands-on approach the perfect way to help them solve strategic challenges.”

NMITE president and CEO James Newby added: “Our graduates are uniquely prepared for the demands of the KTP model — they don’t just understand technology and engineering theory; they have been trained to apply it in real-world contexts. That combination of academic rigour and practical know-how makes them ideal KTP associates — the opportunity for NMITE and local businesses to drive innovation and economic growth together is incredibly exciting.”

Game-changing opportunity
For a rural county like Herefordshire, often underserved in terms of access to high-level technical expertise, the KTP programme represents a game-changing opportunity. It enables local companies to access fresh talent, cutting-edge research, and expert guidance — all aimed at boosting productivity, driving innovation, and stimulating economic growth. NMITE is now encouraging local businesses to get in contact. With final year student projects covering areas such as drones; a mechatronics attachment to a syringe to facilitate precise drug measurement; deployable mesh networks; and low-cost robotics; NMITE is keen to ensure Herefordshire companies benefit from the potential offered by this new KTP programme.

Tim Morris, managing director of ABT Loadmac is one company that knows NMITE well. He said: “KTPs will help local businesses in Herefordshire maintain a competitive advantage through innovation and the investigation of new ways to improve efficiency. We will continueto work closely with NMITE moving forwards.”

NMITE has already established itself in the community as a centre for knowledge transfer and upskilling through its other business support programmes. These include the Innovation Programme for local businesses, as well as a series of professional development courses and an annual Future of Work Conference.

Construction on the new hub building to host these activities on NMITE’s Blackfriars campus is due to start soon.