Royal recognition for ARU Peterborough's impact on city students and businesses

The Duke of Gloucester was the guest of honour at ARU Peterborough, in Bishop’s Road, to mark the institute’s fifth anniversary.

The royal guest was introduced to many students and members of staff as he toured the campus and was shown the university’s medical facilities to train the nurses of the future.

He was told that since opening, ARU Peterborough has worked closely with more than 200 businesses and public sector organisations to shape its course provision to ensure graduates develop the knowledge and skills most valued by local employers.

The university was established by Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), Peterborough City Council and the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority to help fill an education and skills gap in the city and officials say that more than half of its undergraduate students live within the Peterborough postcode area.

They say this shows the university’s success in serving local people and widening access to higher education with about 40 per cent of students stating they would not have attended university if ARU Peterborough had not existed.

The university has partnerships with schools, employers, community organisations and public sector bodies, it is helping to develop local talent for the benefit of the regional economy.

Key initiatives include the Upskill Peterborough course, which supports young people not in education, employment or training, employment bootcamps delivered in partnership with Anglian Water's @one Alliance, and the BOOST programme, which has helped hundreds of local small businesses.

Professor Ross Renton, principal of ARU Peterborough, said: “Our ambition has always been to create a university that would open up opportunities for local people, support employers and play a leading role in Peterborough’s future success.

"The first five years have exceeded our expectations, and we believe the next five can be even more transformative.”

“It was an honour to welcome HRH The Duke of Gloucester to mark this milestone, which was an opportunity to celebrate everyone who has contributed to our success so far.”

Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Paul Bristow, said: “It was an honour to welcome the Duke of Gloucester to Peterborough and our fantastic new university at this milestone moment.

"Since 2022, the award-winning university has opened the door to higher education for more local people, and its graduates are already strengthening our workforce.

“Five years is a significant milestone, and we now look forward to continuing to work with ARU Peterborough to grow and bring even more opportunity to our region in the years ahead.”

Councillor Shabina Qayyum, leader of Peterborough City Council, said: “I know of so many young people who have, or are planning to attend ARU Peterborough who might not have otherwise considered university as an option.

“Our university is no longer newly opening, it is well established in changing the lives of residents living in Peterborough and close by. To be able to share these experiences with the Duke of Gloucester was a huge honour.”