University and plastic manufacturer mould a close partnership

Teesside University has joined forces with one of the North East’s largest plastic manufacturers to create opportunities in the Tees Valley.

The University has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Nifco UK that will see the two organisations work closely on skills, innovation and research and development.

Nifco UK, which is a wholly owned company of Nifco Group of Japan, manufactures a range of injection-moulded plastic products and has several factories across the world, including one at Stockton-on-Tees, with a second facility – which will be used for manufacturing and research and development - set to open in April.

Nifco already enjoys a close relationship with Teesside University and the Memorandum of Understanding will see the partnership extended even further.

Nifco UK’s Managing Director and European Operations Officer Mike Matthews visited Teesside University to sign the document with Vice-Chancellor Professor Graham Henderson CBE DL.

“Working with Teesside University will strengthen the depth of education and innovation in our business and we will be able to use that relationship to attract world-class talent and, more importantly, develop world-class talent and bring world-class business to Teesside,” said Matthews.

“Through a combination of the Memorandum of Understanding with our local University, strong partnerships with training providers who support us with apprenticeships and by up-skilling our people by investing in training, we are ensuring that we have the skills base to continue to grow Nifco, year by year,” he continued.

Professor Henderson contributed to the recently published Witty Review, a government commissioned report that called for universities to be drivers of economic growth. Henderson said the partnership with Nifco was a perfect example of a university working with business to stimulate the local economy.

He said: “The way in which Nifco has invested in skills and innovation and research and development is to be admired and if we can help with that, that’s fantastic.”