Business / EDGE Hub

EDGE Hub

Kent and Medway Engineering, Design, Growth and Enterprise (EDGE) Hub is an ambitious and far reaching initiative. It is designed to unlock regional economic growth and employment in engineering, science and technology sectors.

What is EDGE Hub?

EDGE Hub is a distinct partnership-based and industry-facing business proposition. Specifically, in Kent and Medway, it will offer the region:

  • Technical and professional education opportunities in engineering, product design and technology, including degree apprenticeships, undergraduate and postgraduate courses.
  • A new engineering and technology innovation service that will work with small businesses, larger companies, inventors and entrepreneurs to take innovations from prototype to the market.
  • Business-focused PhD, masters, undergraduate and commercial research projects to support local companies.
  • Short courses and continuing professional development opportunities that are business-focused to meet the needs of small and larger companies.
  • Creative and innovative graduates that employers require for a more diverse workforce, while promoting participation and social mobility in higher education.

Key facts

Professor Rama Thirunamachandran

This new facility will be worth up to an estimated £11m a year to the Kent and Medway economy and will add an additional 1,250 graduates with higher level engineering and technology skills into the labour market by 2024.

Professor Rama Thirunamachandran, Vice-Chancellor of Canterbury Christ Church University

With industry partners we have developed a new and exciting model to deliver STEM education, enterprise and research to help expand the region's inward investment potential.

The current challenges faced by companies in Kent and Medway require innovative solutions for them to thrive and compete with developments such as the Northern Powerhouse and the Midlands Engine for Growth.

  • EDGE Hub will be worth an estimated £7.6m to £11.4m per year to the Kent and Medway economy.Injecting 1,250 highly-skilled engineering and technology graduates into the local economy by 2024.
  • Creating a sustainable and diverse regional talent pool with 30 to 40% of graduates from disadvantaged backgrounds and 30 to 35%women graduates by 2024.
  • Canterbury Christ Church University is a leading and active partner in Kent and Medway’s schools and colleges, with strong outreach and engagement initiatives inspiring thousands of children into higher education. It also holds the STEM Learning schools network contract, STEM Hub, for the South East. Member of the national WISE campaign, the international CDIO community and Primary Engineer’s education partner for the South East.
  • Supported by multimillion-pound funding from the South East Local Enterprise Partnership, former Higher Education Funding Council for England, and the Garfield Weston Foundation.

Our partners

Latest news

Dr Abhaya Induruwa

18 October 2019

Father of Internet in Sri Lanka, Dr Abhaya Induruwa, Receives Award for Pioneering LEARN and Internet in Sri Lanka

Canterbury Christ Church University Director of the Cyber Innovation Hub, Dr Abhaya Induruwa was recently presented with the Lanka Experimental Academic and Research Network (LEARN) Founder Award for pioneering LEARN and ​Internet in Sri Lanka.

Angela Richmond-Fuller, Senior Lecturer in Computing

08 October 2019

Staff Profile: Angela Richmond-Fuller, Senior Lecturer in Computing

Angela Richmond-Fuller, Senior Lecturer in Computing in the School of Engineering Technology and Design at Canterbury Christ Church University.

exoskeletons

04 October 2019

Exoskeletons and their role in post-stroke rehabilitation

Mr Soumya Kanti Manna is a Canterbury Christ Church University exoskeleton expert and is running a CPD opportunity on 23rd October.

Dr. Rihana Ishaq, Director of Engineering at Canterbury Christ Church University

04 October 2019

Staff Profile: Dr. Rihana Ishaq

Rihana decided to apply to become Director of Engineering to make a difference in the careers of engineers and was attracted by the inclusion agenda that CCCU is actively supporting.

Skills for industry and CPD

The diverse expertise of our EDGE Hub team is being harnessed to promote skills development in industry, particularly in the context of Industry 4.0 and the wider digital transformation agenda.

Degree courses span biomedical, chemical, mechanical, product design and software engineering, alongside technology degrees in business information systems, computer forensics and security, computer science and computing.

We are also designing a comprehensive programme of Industry 4.0-focused continuing professional development (CPD) sessions. Bespoke CPD, delivered on location in businesses and in our new EDGE Hub facilities, will be entirely responsive to business and industry needs.

Three scientists discussing experiment results at a work bench

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Contact

Enterprise & Engagement Team

01227 923625

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