The new Chancellor of Reading University Paul Lindley invited John Redwood MP for talks about the future of Reading University and his plans as Chancellor.
Mr Lindley has been recognised as one of the county’s leading entrepreneurs. He founded the children’s food company Ella’s Kitchen in 2004. The company is now the largest baby food company in the UK. The University of Reading played an early role in the development of Ella’s Kitchen, helping the company to develop through Knowledge Transfer Partnerships that involved academic expertise from Henley Business School and the Department for Food and Nutritional Sciences.
John said: "I will not presume to summarise the Chancellor's thoughts as he is still consulting on the best approach.
"In response to his ideas I made the following points
1. As a past entrepreneur he should play to his strengths. He could encourage more spin out businesses from Reading research. He could work in partnership with more local companies. Business can bring money, practical challenges and experience to add to University research equipment and staff insights. He could build on Reading’s strengths in food science, land management and meteorology. The theme of encouraging more film and entertainment businesses to locate here could be reinforced.
2. He could increase University engagement in the local area with more joint use of facilities, more open lectures, more courses tailored to local skills needed.
3. He could fund raise especially through stronger past alumni groups to build a larger Endowment fund.
"I also pointed out that as a specialist academy for farming and land management the University should not sell off all its farms for housing development."
