WIREDGOV

The contribution of UK universities to our economy and society is substantial.

In 2014–15, the UK’s higher education sector supported almost one million jobs, and contributed £21.5 billion to UK GDP, the impact of which is felt across the UK’s regions and nations.

Whether that’s driving innovation through new research, providing the high-level skills our economy needs, as anchors within their local communities helping to boost regional growth, or through expanding our links abroad – they offer business a fantastic partner in helping to drive future prosperity.

As the CBI’s 2018 Education and Skills survey shows, more than half (54%) of those firms with ties to higher education have increased their engagement over the past year showing a growing desire from business to engage with our universities.

That is why the CBI is pleased to be supporting Universities UK’s #MadeAtUni campaign, which seeks to bring to life the impact universities up and down the country have on people, their lives and local communities. Through this campaign, the transformational research and life-changing initiatives that take place across our universities can be highlighted and we can move beyond the traditional idea of universities acting solely as skills providers – recognising the much wider role universities play within society.

For more information about the campaign, please see here, or to find out the work the CBI is doing across the higher education sector, please get in touch with Harry Anderson, the CBI’s lead on Higher Education policy.