Director of international commercial finance and consulting firm Charter HCP Terry Pritchard visited the University of West London (UWL) on Thursday 8 May to sign an agreement to launch the Pritchard Centre for Resilient Venture Finance. The Centre will equip innovative enterprises with the financial readiness to scale solutions that build resilience across societies and economies.

Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Peter John CBE introduced Terry Pritchard to attendees at the evening event, thanking him for his generous donation which has enabled the establishment of this critical new centre for resilient venture finance at the University.

“There is a new word gaining traction in financial and policy circles: resilience,” said Terry to those present. “Because in a volatile, uncertain world, resilience is the currency that will determine who thrives and who falters. Innovation, when its purpose driven, inclusive and built for the long term is the engine of the resilience enabling societies, businesses and economies to adapt, recover and thrive in the face of disruption.

“The University of West London stands out as one of the few institutions in the UK demonstrating genuine resilience,” he continued. “I’ve seen it for myself, from the impressive new facilities to the real hands-on commitment to helping students succeed and make a difference in the real world. I congratulate you on creating real opportunities for students to engage in entrepreneurship and innovation through your enterprise hub, food innovation lab and various research centres and programmes.”

Attendees heard a short presentation from Head of Knowledge Exchange John Charlton about the launch of the UK’s first Virtual TTO and another from Hospitality Management students Rahul Dahiya and Marco Palamara, inventors of patent-pending living wall solution Algi, as examples of UWL inventions and startups that would benefit from the Pritchard Centre.

By bridging the gap between bold ideas and capital, the new Centre will play a vital role in fostering sustainable growth, inclusive innovation, and long-term stability in an increasingly volatile world. It will empower innovative enterprises by advancing their investment readiness and supporting the development of resilience-building technologies that tackle global challenges such as climate change, financial inclusion, healthcare, pandemics, food security, disaster preparedness, critical supply chains, cybersecurity, and social resilience.

Anchored within UWL with its strong industry links, applied research excellence, and commitment to social impact—the Centre will leverage the University’s multidisciplinary expertise in business, technology, healthcare, food innovation and sustainability.