SCOTLAND’S Rural College (SRUC) provides more business value to small and medium-sized enterprises than any other higher education institution in the UK, according to a new study by Universities UK.
The study found that over a four-year period SRUC generated more than £57.5 million of income through its consultancy and veterinary services.
Consequently, SRUC has been ranked above the University of Liverpool (£54m) and the Royal Veterinary College (£31.5m), with the University of Edinburgh (£16.5m) and the University of St Andrews (£12.5m) the only two other Scottish entries in the top ten.
In terms of the UK, Scotland finished above the North West (£83.5m) and London (£76.1m), with SRUC responsible for more than half of Scotland’s £102m total revenue.
This latest news comes hot on the heels of SRUC being named as one of the top 50 UK universities by Times Higher Education (THE).
Professor Wayne Powell, principal and chief executive, said the new report showed the value of SRUC’s operating model that embraces mission diversity, giving equal emphasis to research, education and business engagement through consultancy, contract research and services.
He added: “While this is a tremendous accolade, this is not an overnight success story but builds on the long-term commitment that SRUC and its predecessor, SAC, has to serving the farming and rural communities across the length and breadth of Scotland.
“At a time when the education sector is under huge pressure and traditional university business models are being challenged, the most resilient institutions have multiple strings to their bows. This, together with our focus on the sustainable natural economy, puts SRUC in a strong position to build on this business model and play an important role in Scotland’s green economic recovery.”
Market round-up
Caledonian Marts sold 2736 store lambs and feeding ewes at its weekly sale in Stirling yesterday.
Store lambs (2296) met a similar trade to last week with long keeping lambs very much in demand. Top price of the day was for a pen of Beltex cross lambs at £82.
A good show of 440 feeding ewes met an excellent trade selling to £90 for a pair of Texel ewes.
There was also a smaller show of ewe lambs which sold to £82 for a pair of Texels.
Messrs Craig Wilson sold 1,333 prime and cast sheep at Newton Stewart yesterday.
As expected, the 948 Lambs sold came to less money on the week to average 194p/kg or £87.
All weights with plenty of cover were still easy to sell and peaked at £105 and 223p/kg for the same pen of Texels.
A mixed show for quality in the cast sheep sold to a top of £103 for a Bluefaced Leicester with Mule ewes to £86.
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