How universities will help the UK bounce back from the pandemic

The #GettingResults campaign is based on new research published on 27 May by Universities UK (UUK), under the title Universities and the UK’s economic recovery: an analysis of future impact. Using data compiled by the National Centre for Entrepreneurship in Education (NCEE), it shows how partnerships with UUK's 140 universities can create thousands of jobs and boost prosperity across the UK.

In the south-east over the next five years, figures suggest universities like Brighton will support the regional economy to the tune of around £2.4 billion, creating around 1,750 new businesses and thousands of new local jobs.

Universities also train many graduates in vital community support vocations such as social work, health and teaching. In 2019–20, Brighton alone provided over 550 students qualified to enter teaching, and around 700 graduates in nursing, midwifery and pharmacy.

Brighton has also developed innovative apprenticeship programmes with both NHS employers and employers in the built environment sector to diversify routes into work-based training and education for students from a wider background.

In response to climate change, Brighton's Clean Growth UK is an award-winning national business innovation network with three regional hubs at the universities of Brighton, Portsmouth and Liverpool John Moores. The network supports businesses to develop green products and services – with a 2,000 membership that has already created or safeguarded over 600 green economy jobs and 194 new products/services.

Brighton's regional Green Growth Platform facilitated a Knowledge Transfer Partnership with OSET bikes. Ian Smith, their CEO, said: “This KTP project has brought testing and design protocols in-house, streamlined the development process and added value and science that was missing before. It has given us an edge allowing us to retain our number one position in our market.”

Over the last two years our researchers have worked closely with local communities to share our knowledge to jointly tackle major post pandemic social challenges including housing shortages, loneliness and children’s mental health. Our new Centre for the Contemporary Arts in central Brighton is open to all, attracts 10,000 visitors per year, and works closely with a range of local community partners.

The Brighton Research Innovation Technology Exchange (BRITE) project, meanwhile – delivered in partnership with the Plus X Brighton innovation hub - supports local SMEs with diverse programmes drawing on the university's research expertise.

BRITE played a key role in a new GPS system developed by Naurt that promises to be 150 times more accurate than current location technology. Speaking to UK Tech News, the company's co-founder Jack Maddalena said: “Our goal is to be an integral part of the smart cities of the future, and the BRITE programme has been a key factor in making that a reality for us.”

Professor Tara Dean, Brighton Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research and Enterprise), said: “Universities such as Brighton are very much open for business and want to develop even closer links with local companies and communities who will help drive our recovery from the pandemic. We have so much to offer, and need to ensure we share all that universities can provide during this challenging process of recovery.”

Professor Julia Buckingham CBE, Universities UK’s President, said: "By working closely with their partners, including local government and employers, universities will play a vital role in the UK's post-pandemic recovery. Together, they can contribute significantly to future economic success and improve lives. Moving forward it is important that employers fully take advantage of universities’ support and develop productive relationships so the region can bounce back stronger from the pandemic.”