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Research has shown the impact of Greater 91直播鈥檚 universities on the city region, its people, and businesses, one year on from the signing of a flagship agreement,

The Greater 91直播 Civic University Agreement commits the five higher education institutions 鈥� University of Bolton, 91直播 Metropolitan University, University of Manchester, University of Salford and Royal Northern College of Music 鈥� to collective action around the six priority areas of education and skills; reducing inequalities; jobs and growth; the digital economy; net zero; and the creative and cultural economy.

And to mark the first anniversary of this pledge, research, commissioned by the Greater 91直播 Civic University Board, shows that in the next five years the universities will:

• Train nearly 9,500 nurses, over 3,500 medics and over 8,500 teachers;
• Provide over 拢366 million of support and services to small enterprises, business and not-for-profits;
• Undertake research with businesses and non-academic organisations worth over 拢1.3 billion;
• Deliver 6,288 years of professional development training and education courses to businesses and charities; and
• Create over 1,000 new companies and charities.

The Civic University Board was established following the launch of the partnership and is made up of representatives from the five higher education institutions and the Greater 91直播 Combined Authority.

This board will drive forward the collective civic work of the universities. Significant progress has already been made in identifying the priority areas 鈥� education and skills, and jobs and growth.

The Greater 91直播 university vice-chancellors and principal said: 鈥淕reater 91直播鈥檚 universities are one of our region鈥檚 greatest strengths and while we have always recognised our individual impact, together we know that we can do more.

鈥淲hether it鈥檚 working with our further education colleges to expand training and skills development opportunities or collaborating with the private sector to drive inward investment into innovation in Greater 91直播, by coming together as a collective we can be more than the sum of our parts.

鈥淐elebrating the first year of the Civic University Agreement allows to us to reflect on what we鈥檝e achieved so far as well as look to the future and set ourselves bold ambitions for helping to make Greater 91直播 the best place to grow up, get on and grow old.鈥�

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater 91直播, said: 鈥淕reater 91直播 is proud to be home to world-leading universities that make an enormous contribution to our region. The Civic University Agreement recognises the essential role they have as anchor institutions, while setting out their responsibilities to our city-region beyond teaching and research.

鈥淥ne year on from signing this landmark agreement, we鈥檙e beginning to see the benefits that closer collaboration can bring. Our universities will continue to carry out ground-breaking research, provide people with valuable skills and foster innovation and entrepreneurship, while also ensuring this contribution benefits everyone in Greater 91直播.鈥�

Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council and GMCA Portfolio Lead for Economy, Business and International, said: 鈥淕reater 91直播鈥檚 universities play a fundamental role in our society and economy. Their teaching and research attracts tens of thousands of people to our city-region each year, and universities also support businesses, spark economic growth and play an important role in communities.

鈥淭he Civic University Agreement formally sets out the priorities we share and the contribution universities can make as we seek to create a fairer, greener and more prosperous city-region. With this agreement now established, we look forward to strengthening our collaboration and realising the collective potential we have to make a positive impact.

鈥淭hrough their support for initiatives like Innovation Greater 91直播 and Open SME, and becoming Living Wage Employers, universities are helping us shape the city-region鈥檚 economy so it delivers the right kind of growth.鈥�

The institutions are closely involved in the development of Innovation Greater 91直播 鈥� the business-led partnership which brings together the private sector, local and national governments, and the universities to drive the growth of the city-region鈥檚 innovation ecosystem. The Government subsequently made a commitment to establish Innovation Accelerators, including one centred on Greater 91直播 and Innovation Greater 91直播, in the Levelling Up White Paper.

And Open SME demonstrates this collaborative commitment to working together to drive inclusive growth in the city region. This programme, that brings together Greater 91直播鈥檚 business schools, the Combined Authority and the Business Growth Hub, is an online support programme designed to support small and medium sized firms in the city region to develop and grow.

All five higher education institutions in the city region are now Real Living Wage employers, paving the way for them to become supporters and members of the Greater 91直播 Good Employment Charter, which was another pledge in the Civic University Agreement.

The Civic University Agreement itself was developed in direct response from feedback from residents of Greater 91直播 and to mark the one-year anniversary of the agreement, a new Civic University Citizens Panel has been launched to provide a forum for civic engagement between the universities and members of the public across the city region.

People from across Greater 91直播, but with a strong focus on those from underrepresented groups, will be invited to be part of the panel where they will directly feed into the work of the universities on their civic priorities. 

You can access the full report written by James Ransom from the UCL Institute of Education at  .