Andy Newnham

Introductory Statement

I'm the Business Engagement Partner for the College and you can find me in one of three places every week: room 246 in the Muirhead Tower (Mon/Tue), room 143 in the Business School (Wed/Thu), or with DABE colleagues in Aston Webb (Fri).

I’m responsible for helping the college work with external businesses and being the first port of call for businesses who want to work with us. This ranges from helping academic colleagues work on business engagement activities like consultancy and research projects (grant-funded or contract), promoting our CPD offer to corporate partners and working on student focussed activities like joint-teaching activities and graduate recruitment. The vast majority of my work is collaborative, working with our excellent professional services colleagues and academic partners to deliver added value to existing or new relationships. There’s one of me per college as well, so I get involved in joint activities with people such as engineers and life scientists where we can deliver a cross-university service to business. I work closely with the College Research Support Office, BBS External Relations, Careers Network, RIS and many other departments – so collaboration is my middle name!

I live in Birmingham but am originally from Rugby, and if you follow me on Twitter you get the jist of what I’m all about – football (playing), rugby (Leicester Tigers), family and movies. With a wife who works in learning and development I tend to take an interest in leadership and management, and also what’s going on in the HE sector; so I’m always up for a chat about any of that.

I’ve worked in a few different roles since graduating: in careers (University of Nottingham), the museum sector (Nottingham City Council), digital resources and libraries (University of Warwick) and lastly, Careers Network here at Birmingham. Highlight of my career? Winning the 'Outstanding Contribution to Work Experience' award at the National Placement and Internship Awards 2013…  Hopefully there’s more to come!