Celebrating your partnerships

07 Jul 2026

University launches its first ever Partnership Excellence Awards to recognise outstanding collaborations and knowledge exchange that create meaningful impact, a key part of our Manchester 2035 strategy – nominate now!

Nominations are now open for the inaugural Partnership Excellence Awards.

The Awards celebrate your outstanding collaborations, partnerships and knowledge exchange activity that create meaningful impact across our University and beyond.

Partnership and collaboration are key to our Manchester 2035 strategy, particularly the three of our Leaps: A university to partner with; A powerhouse of innovation; and Research excellence to impact.

Finalists will be invited to celebrate their partnership success at an evening Award Ceremony and Dinner at the Whitworth Art Gallery, as part of The University of Manchester's Innovation Festival, Wednesday, 7 October 2026.

Nominations must be made by Wednesday, 12 August 2026.

Vital contribution of effective partnership working

Delivered by Business Engagement and Knowledge Exchange as part of the University’s Innovation Festival, the awards recognise the vital contributions of academics, researchers, professional services colleagues and external partners who are working together to advance research, innovation, social value and economic growth through effective partnership working.

Whether it's a long-standing strategic alliance, a transformative SME collaboration or an impactful regional partnership, this is your opportunity to recognise and celebrate excellence in collaboration.

Award categories include:

Strategic Alliance Excellence
Regional Partnership Excellence
Social Enterprise Partnership Excellence
Small Business Partnership Excellence
Research Collaboration Excellence
Business Partnership Rising Star
Academic Business Engagement and Knowledge Exchange Champion

Key dates

Nominations close: Wednesday, 12 August 2026
Finalists announced: Wednesday, 9 September 2026
Awards ceremony: Wednesday, 7 October 2026 at the Whitworth Art Gallery, as part of The University of Manchester's Innovation Festival.

Finalists will be invited to celebrate their partnership success at an evening Award Ceremony and Dinner on this date. Please hold this date in your diary so that you can attend, should your nomination be shortlisted.

Nominations can be submitted by, or on behalf of:

Academics, researchers or students at The University of Manchester and / or 
External organisations that have collaborated or partnered with The University of Manchester

Further information

Find out more about the award categories and submit your nomination via the Partnership Excellence Awards webpage.

If you would like to discuss a nomination prior to submission, please reach out to the Businesses Engagement and Knowledge Exchange team at: collaborate@manchester.ac.uk