STAFF at the International Centre for Life are celebrating after collecting a top industry award.

The Newcastle centre has landed the Leading Edge Award for Business Practice from the Association of Science and Technology Centres, (ASTC), the global body representing science centres worldwide.

The Roy L Shafer Leading Edge Awards are presented annually in recognition of extraordinary accomplishments that not only enhance the performance of their own institutions but also significantly advance the mission of science-technology centres and museums worldwide.

Life, which is the only European science centre to win an award, was rewarded for demonstrating its commitment to applying best practice and achieving business efficiency as well embodying the ASTC values of collaboration, forward-looking leadership and creativity.

The international judging panel praised its business model which, it said, had been thought through strategically from the outset.

“It was remarkable that the centre had operated for a decade without public subsidy and had never lost sight of its mission to open up minds to science,” said the judges.

Life chief executive Linda Conlon accepted the award at the ASTC annual conference which took place in Baltimore, USA, and was attended by more than 1,500 people from science centres globally.

She said: “We’re absolutely delighted with this award. It’s the very best to receive because it is awarded by our peers worldwide.

“It’s recognition that our business model and our unique partnership with Newcastle University and the NHS stands out on an international stage.”

In a further boost for the centre Conlon has become the first person from the UK to be appointed vice- president of ASTC.

Her role will be to look at the global issues affecting science centres and their relevance on a local level.

She will take an active role in promoting a number of the body’s global initiatives.