MANCHESTER.- Last week, on Thursday 5th February, Manchester Museum’s Director Dr Nick Merriman presented with the Lever Prize trophy, following the Museum’s recent win of the prestigious Lever Prize 2015. The trophy was presented by Juergen Maier, Chief Executive of Siemens Industry UK and Chairman of the North West Business Leadership Team (NWBLT), at a special reception held in the Museum’s Living Worlds Gallery. The event was attended by senior leaders from the arts and business sectors in the region, as well as senior figures from the University of Manchester.

The Lever Prize also comes with a cheque for £10,000 and the opportunity for the Museum to collaborate on partnership programmes with some of the region’s most influential businesses during its winning year.

The annual prize, now in its ninth year, is judged by the North West Business Leadership Team (NWBLT) in partnership with Arts & Business, and aims to bring together the arts and business communities. The Prize is awarded to organisations which are judged to be regionally distinctive, with international or potentially international significance, who show high calibre existing work and can demonstrate exciting future developments.

Manchester Museum won this year’s Lever Prize for its Real Life Science project, which encourages secondary and post-16 students to develop practical investigative skills through an array of science workshops. This programme uniquely combines practical science with Manchester Museum’s collection and displays, together with the chance to meet scientists from across the University of Manchester.

On presenting the trophy, Juergen Maier, Chairman of NWBLT commented “We are delighted Manchester Museum has won the 2015 Lever Prize. They have come up with some really creative ideas for working with the NWBLT membership throughout the year particularly through their Real Life Science project. NWBLT is proud to be supporting dynamic arts organisations in the North West since 2005 when the Lever Prize was launched”.

Dr Nick Merriman, Director of Manchester Museum said “I am really delighted to accept the trophy for the 2015 Lever Prize, in the company of the region’s most influential business and arts leaders. This prize will enable the Museum to strengthen our existing secondary and post-16 science programme. The opportunity to benefit from the advice and support of the NWBLT will make a huge difference in the future development of this crucial aspect of our work – particularly in using industry expertise to develop a summer school focused on sustainability.”