TWO of the county's biggest and most internationally-successful businesses have thrown their support behind the Herefordshire university campaign.

Cargill Meats Europe and Heineken UK Ltd have already made a donation to the Founders' Fund to begin to realise the vision of the New Model in Technology and Engineering (NMiTE).

Together, the firms employ thousands of people in Herefordshire and have explained the need for skilled young engineers within their firms – which they believe the university will provide.

Cargill Meats Europe, which provides food, agriculture, financial and industrial products and services around the world, has two processing facilities in Hereford and processes 1.6 million chickens per week at the Grandstand Road plant.

Fiona Morris, HR lead for Cargill’s European poultry business, said: "Cargill employs roughly 2,000 people in Herefordshire, and finding and retaining talented, business-ready engineers and technologists is key to our future success.

"We have run a successful engineering apprenticeship programme for a number of years, but still we can struggle to attract candidates with the appropriate skills for our business.

"We are confident that NMITE’s innovative approach to education will help us fill that gap, giving talented people from across the UK the chance to develop a rewarding STEM career, and producing graduates with the skills, attitude and knowledge to help local businesses thrive.”

Meanwhile Heineken UK, which owns Hereford-based Bulmers, has already donated £50,000 to the development of the university's business case in the first NMiTE Corporate Partnership donation.

Alexander Brinkerink, Cider Plant Manager at the firm, has spoken of the benefits the university will bring to the city.

He said: "We are delighted to support the New Model in Technology and Engineering.

"This course offers a great mix of skills, opportunities and knowledge for young people and we are excited to be helping to find the next generation of potential cider makers.

"As a major employer in Hereford and across the UK we are confident that supporting this programme will have real benefits for us and for other businesses who will be taking part."

The Hereford Times teamed up with the Herefordshire Tertiary Education Trust (HTET) – the charitable organisation putting together a business case for the new university project – to find those who could complete its Founders’ Fund last month.

Several businesses and individuals have come forward since then but more are needed before November 23.

Any businesses, individuals or groups looking to find out more about becoming a founding donor can email karen.usher@nmite.org.uk or call 01981 550067.