The University of Cumbria has been named the top university in the North for producing alumni who go on to become company founders.

The research by Novuna Business Cash Flow analysed data from LinkedIn and found that the University of Cumbria ranked 6th overall out of 121 UK universities.

While The University of Cambridge topped the poll, the University of Cumbria was the only northern English university to feature in the top ten.

The study examined nearly 2.8 million alumni who founded companies between 2020 and 2023 from universities across the UK.

The study found a decline in entrepreneurs across most regions from 2017-2019 to 2020-2022.

However, nine universities, including the University of Cumbria, defied this trend.

The University of Cumbria increased its percentage of alumni entrepreneurs from 4.22 per cent to 5.1 per cent during the same periods.

Professor Brian Webster Henderson, Deputy Vice Chancellor said; “We are delighted to be named as the top university in the north for producing alumni entrepreneurs and come 6th over all nationally.

“Being named as one of the leading universities to produce company founders represents the importance and impact that the University of Cumbria is having in the region and beyond.

“Setting up a business can be challenging and so that’s why we are offering all new and returning students an enhanced support package that provides them with careers and employability support and guidance for up to three years after they graduate, further supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs.”