A university partnership that has helped a Greater Manchester-based business to improve its operations and social value service has been recognised with a national award.
The partnership between Manchester Metropolitan University, led by Dr Roula Michaelides and Dr Zenon Michaelides, and family-owned wholesale foodservice Dunsters Farm has been presented with the ‘Changing the World’ Award at the annual KTP Awards.
The award is a result of a collaborative Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP), which has seen Dunsters Farm embrace academic expertise from Manchester Met to progress the organisation’s Carbon Reduction and Net Zero planning. By implementing new sustainable practices, the organisation has been able to grow and future-proof its operations.
Manchester Met has also helped Dunsters Farm to explore solar and biofuel advancements, create efficiencies in its warehouse operations and implement transformative digital solutions.
Tom Mathew, Commercial Director at Dunsters Farm, said: “In a world that is always evolving, it is crucial for small businesses like ours to stay ahead of the curve. At Dunsters Farm, we recognise the importance of embracing technology to help create efficiencies and better serve our customers.
“The partnership with Manchester Met has been great, and one which I’d recommend to other small businesses in the region. It brings together the creativity and wisdom of academia and translates it into a practical tool that you can leverage in your business.”
KTPs are a UK-wide programme designed to foster innovation by linking businesses with academic institutions.
With funding and support provided by Innovate UK, the scheme enables companies to access cutting-edge research and specialist knowledge to solve strategic challenges, develop new products and enhance their competitive edge.
To celebrate the landmark 50th anniversary since the inception of KTPs, the annual KTP Awards marked the transformative impact, collaboration, and innovation delivered by exceptional projects, partnerships, and practitioners across the UK and beyond.
The awards were hosted at the iconic Kimpton Clocktower Hotel in Manchester on October 28 as part of the KTP 2025 Conference, which saw Innovate UK come together with Manchester Metropolitan University, the University of Salford, the University of Manchester and more than 450 delegates to commemorate KTP achievements and inspire the next generation of partnerships.
Professor Nick Brook, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research at Manchester Met, said: “As we celebrate 50 years of the transformative impact of KTPs it is fantastic to see our partnership with Dunsters Farm recognised.
“The award is a result of the impact that the KTP funding, and support from Manchester Met academics, is having on the Dunsters Farm business – helping them meet the emerging technology, skills and environmental challenges as their business continues to grow.
“The recognition is also testament to the Dunsters Farm team who are continuing to drive change in the business to deliver the long-term impact that KTPs are designed to have beyond the timeframes of the partnerships.”
Find out more about KTPs at Manchester Met and how academic experts are helping businesses to innovate and grow.
