In spite of a job offer by
Rolls-Royce, Horlock accepted the role of professor and head of the mechanical engineering department at
University of Liverpool. He returned to Cambridge as professor of engineering in 1967, and in 1973 he founded the department's
Whittle Laboratory, also becoming its director. In 1981, Horlock began working for the Open University. Whilst there he tackled the government over spending cuts, introduced a taught postgraduate masters programme, and expanded the OU. Following his retirement he was treasurer and later vice-president of the
Royal Society. == Research ==