Skip to main content Skip to navigation

Kenneth Baker - Memories

“He believed passionately that the world of education and the world of business should be brought together. ”

Lord Kenneth Baker of Dorking

Lord Kenneth Baker of Dorking

On WMG and Professor Lord Bhattacharyya:

He believed passionately that the world of education and the world of business should be brought together. So when Jack Butterworth, the 1st Great Vice Chancellor of the University of Warwick made him a professor in 1980, he set up the Warwick Manufacturing Group to bring in managers from companies like GKN, Lucas, British Leyland and Rolls-Royce to actually work in the University.

That was unique at that time, that cooperation was so unique that it drove Warwick high up the university league table to sit alongside Oxford and Cambridge.

On WMG Academy for Young Engineers:

Kumar was also attracted to support the college, colleges that I have been supporting, university technical colleges, as they bring education and business together.

Kumar supported two UCs, one in this city Coventry and also in Solihull. Kumar was very proud of these colleges because they produce at 16 and 19, apprentices and students who go on to study STEM subjects.