Celebrating Educate North Awards finalists

23 Mar 2026

Colleagues across the Faculty have secured several nominations for this year’s Awards.

The annual Educate North Awards celebrate excellence and recognise world-class achievements and improvements in the education sector in the North of England. This year, colleagues and projects across the Faculty have been shortlisted as Awards finalists in several categories.

Two Faculty colleagues secured a nomination for the Leadership and Innovation Award, which recognises exceptional and inspiring leaders who drive meaningful change through forward-thinking initiatives. Dr Miri Firth, Senior Lecturer in Education Management and Leadership in SEED, was nominated, alongside Richard Allmendinger, Professor of Applied Artificial Intelligence in AMBS and Faculty Associate Dean for Business Engagement, Civic and Cultural Partnerships.

A Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) on ‘Digitalising the Audit Function’ between Menzies LLP and the University, headed up by Brian Nicholson, Professor of Business Information Systems in AMBS, has been nominated for the Business Engagement Award. This award recognises universities that are building quality partnerships to benefit the region and its people.

The Faculty has also been nominated for a Sustainable Green Initiative Award for a KTP with Yorkshire Wildlife Trust to support and improve peatland restoration and revegetation. The project is supported by Dr Emma Shuttleworth, Senior Lecturer in Physical Geography in SEED. This award celebrates the achievements of students, staff and institutions who promote environmental and social responsibility and make a difference to our climate.

Another Faculty initiative nominated is the Teach Economics project, a collaboration between the University and the Bank of England offering training for existing teachers to deliver A-level economics alongside their core subject. This project has been nominated for an Innovation Award, which recognises original and creative initiatives which have enhanced the performance and/or reputation of an institution and contributed to the UK’s economy.

All nominations can be viewed on the Educate North Awards 2026 finalists page. The awards ceremony will be held at Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground on Thursday, 7 May.

Congratulations to all finalists!