ARU recognised for entrepreneurship and impact
ARU Peterborough receives the Regional Impact Award at Alliance Awards 2026
Presentation of the Regional Impact Award to ARU Peterborough. From left: University Alliance CEO Vanessa Wilson, ARU Peterborough Vice Principals Jamie Jones and Dr Lucy Jones, and CEO of the Chartered Association of Business Schools Flora Hamilton.
Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) is celebrating a double success after being shortlisted for a prestigious Times Higher Education (THE) Award and winning national recognition for ARU Peterborough’s local impact.
ARU has been named amongst the finalists in the Outstanding Entrepreneurial University category at the THE Awards 2026, known as the “Oscars of higher education”, while ARU Peterborough has won the Regional Impact Award at the Alliance Awards 2026.
The Alliance Awards are run by University Alliance, the organisation for professional and technical universities in the UK, and ARU Peterborough received the Regional Impact Award in recognition of its contribution to local economic growth, skills development and social mobility
In addition to providing career-focused courses at undergraduate and postgraduate level, ARU Peterborough delivers a range of support including Upskill Peterborough to help young people not in education, employment or training, employment bootcamps in conjunction with Anglian Water’s @one Alliance partners, and the BOOST programme, which has benefited hundreds of local small businesses.
"From day one, we have worked closely with employers and public sector partners to address skills needs and support local growth.
“We are thrilled to receive this award as it recognises the positive impact ARU Peterborough is having as a civic anchor institution. We’re creating opportunities not just for our students, but for individuals and businesses in Peterborough and across the wider region."
Professor Ross Renton, Principal of ARU PeterboroughThe Alliance Award adds to a growing list of accolades for ARU Peterborough. In 2023, ARU was named University of the Year at the UK Social Mobility Awards for the role ARU Peterborough is playing in advancing social mobility, while its latest building, The Lab, won the national Best Building category at the 2025 Pineapples Awards, celebrating places and projects that make a positive difference to communities.
Meanwhile, ARU has been shortlisted alongside Aston University, Durham University, the Royal College of Art, Swansea University and the University of York in the Outstanding Entrepreneurial University category at the THE Awards 2026, which recognise excellence across the UK and Irish higher education sectors.
Entrepreneurship is central to how ARU delivers its mission, which is to transform lives through innovative, inclusive and entrepreneurial education and research. In 2024-25, the Anglia Ruskin Enterprise Academy assisted 115 new graduate start-ups, while ARU’s Arise Innovation Hubs helped 71 businesses, supporting 283 jobs.
ARU also delivers the NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme (CEP), which in its first 10 years has helped raise more than £1.27 billion of investment and supported the creation of 691 businesses, generating 5,184 jobs. ARU has recently secured £4.8million of funding to continue delivering CEP over the next five years.
"To have again received more than 500 entries is a sure sign that our sectors’ commitment to improving the societies they serve is undimmed, and we offer our sincere congratulations to all the institutions and individuals shortlisted. It is a huge achievement to have reached this stage in another very competitive year."
Chris Havergal, Editor of Times Higher Education (THE)The winners of the THE Awards 2026 will be announced on Thursday, 26 November at a ceremony at The Vox in Birmingham.