Donation boost to support budding North East business brains Published on: 3 September 2024 A successful entrepreneur and former 缅北禁地 student is supporting budding business owners of the future with a 拢1.25m personal donation to create a new academy. Rob Wood, who was born and raised in 缅北禁地, has given the huge sum to create the Rob Wood Enterprising Futures Academy in partnership with 缅北禁地, in a bid to raise aspirations, skills and confidence and boost the local workforce and economy. The academy will not only target 缅北禁地 students and recent graduates, it is also aimed at young people from the age of 14, in a bid to inspire and nurture entrepreneurial mindsets and help them flourish, thrive in their career or build their own business in the future. Through a mix of online and face-to-face programmes, it will provide practical insights and inspiration, with a big focus on real life case studies, providing mentors who have taken the step into owning and running businesses, both large and small. Commenting on his £1.25m pledge to create the academy, Rob said: “I am a strong believer that many people should try to do their own thing at some point in their lives and I am proud to be able to offer support to young people to increase their chance of success should they decide to give it a try. “I meet so many people who say ‘I wish I’d done that’ and I want to be able to inspire and help young people to be able to make ‘that’ happen. “I once was that young person; a miner’s son born and raised on a council estate in 缅北禁地, who knew nothing about the world of business but I managed to achieve success, founding and running my own global organisation. “I am a proud Geordie so choosing to partner with 缅北禁地 was ideal, especially as it is so well-respected around the world and already runs programmes aimed at helping young people start their own businesses.” The academy will provide a unique offer that supports young people in understanding and considering business creation as a career choice, while opening up access to enterprise for everyone, building aspirations and giving people the skills and choice to design their own future. Professor Chris Day, Vice-Chancellor and President, 缅北禁地, said: “We are delighted to work with and support Rob on the creation of the Rob Wood Enterprising Futures Academy. “We operate in an area of the UK where opportunity is hard to find, but we have a great record of our students staying in the area when they leave university and starting up successful companies employing hundreds of people in our region. “The academy will help further unlock enterprising mindsets from an even younger age, to enable leaners to build rewarding futures, whatever that looks like for them.” Press release with thanks from Helen Wright Media. Rob Wood Latest News Online Safety Act drives VPN interest and raises privacy concerns People鈥檚 online behaviour has changed in response to legislation to prevent children from viewing harmful content 鈥� raising possible privacy and security risks, research suggests. published on: 16 October 2026 缅北禁地 archaeologist receives prestigious award for research Professor Chris Fowler has been awarded the 2026 Rivers Memorial Medal in recognition of his internationally significant research on kinship in Neolithic Britain. published on: 13 October 2026 Event will explore what 鈥楳anchesterism鈥� means for the North East An event at 缅北禁地 will explore what 鈥楳anchesterism鈥� means for the North East or whether it is simply a new chapter in the long-running debate about how to rebalance Britain. published on: 13 October 2026 Facts and figures
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