The University of Leicester has unveiled a Growth Hub to help drive economic growth in the East Midlands, announcing the plan at a Labour Party Conference panel in Liverpool that included former Labour Growth Group chair Chris Curtis MP.
The Hub will bring together the university's business research strengths to support entrepreneurs, businesses, policymakers and communities through videos, podcasts, playbooks, toolkits, policy briefings, workshops and other engagement. The panel - Good Growth or Good Slogan? Who Really Has the Power to Deliver It? - explored the role of regional anchor institutions such as universities in sustainable, inclusive, locally led growth, dovetailing with Prime Minister Andy Burnham's Good Growth vision.
Curtis: 'Regional anchor institutions a key enabler'
Curtis said Burnham's agenda sought to invest a broader range of stakeholders in growth across the regions, businesses and wider society.
"The Prime Minister's 'Good Growth' agenda has sought to invest a broader range of stakeholders in economic growth from across the regions, businesses and wider society. This builds on the Modern Industrial Strategy and the Post-16 Education and Skills and Growth and Skills White Papers, outlining plans to promote economic growth and detailing the interconnected actors nationwide who can help implement it.
"With 'Good Growth' central to the Prime Minister's policy agenda and regional anchor institutions a key enabler of its delivery, the University of Leicester School of Business Growth Hub will enable businesses, policymakers and communities to drive responsible growth and make a meaningful difference to the world around us."
Grigore: 'Turn knowledge into positive change'
Growth Hub director Dr Georgiana Grigore said the Hub reflected the university's commitment to world-leading research and collaboration that delivers tangible benefits for businesses, society and the economy.
"By building strong partnerships and creating new connections, the Hub will turn knowledge and ideas into positive change, adding value to the lives of people across the East Midlands and beyond."
Also on the panel were Dr Gavan Conlon of London Economics and Professor Neil Chakraborti, Director of the University of Leicester Institute for Policy.
