Written evidence from Universities South
West
UNIVERSITIES SOUTH
WEST
Universities South West is the higher education
membership association for South West England. We represent a
strong partnership of 13 universities and higher education institutions
working together for over a decade to influence and shape opportunity
in a creative and dynamic geographic area.
MEMBER ORGANISATIONS
| Arts University College Bournemouth
| University of Bath |
| Bath Spa University | University of Bristol
|
| Bournemouth University | University of Exeter
|
| Open University in the South West | University of Gloucestershire
|
| Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester |
University of Plymouth |
| University College Falmouth |
|
| University of the West of England, Bristol |
|
| University College Plymouth St Mark & St John
| |
| |
We welcome the fact that the Department of Business, Innovation
and Skills has recognised the contribution that universities make
and have involved the sector in the consultation process for the
formation of LEPs and the Regional Growth Fund.
Universities are significant local employers, landowners and landlords
in their own right and have a substantial impact on local infrastructure.[115]
It is logical therefore, that as sizeable business organisations
and drivers of their local economies and communities, universities
have a key role to play as members of LEPs.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1. South West universities are at the heart of multiple
business and economic partnerships spanning a huge breadth of
activity. It is vital for the continuation and enhancement of
their economic impact that universities are able to continue to
engage with partners in the areas of higher level skills, research,
innovation, enterprise, international linkages and knowledge transfer.[116]
2. The South West, traditionally considered to encompass
the West of England unitary areas, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire,
Somerset, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall, has a diverse and somewhat
unique socio-economic demographic and geographic make-up. Our
universities are finely attuned to these characteristics and have
developed strong links and considerable expertise to support community
and business interests that extend further than the local.
3. Subject to further details, it should be recognised
that many existing successful partnerships and relationships occur
at a level that is beyond the expected local remit that individual
LEPs may have. It is therefore, anticipated that universities
will necessarily have interests in multiple LEP areas, for example,
due to campuses spanning likely LEP areas, being geographically
located in positions which border or overlap LEPs or linkages
with bodies (eg an FE College or R&D facility) situated in
another LEP.
4. Again, subject to further details, the proposed separation
of responsibility for innovation and skills, which are to be dealt
with on a national basis, and enterprise, to be within the remit
of LEPs, needs to be clear and efficient as universities currently
consider these two aspects as complementary.
5. Universities have a significant role to play in providing
a skilled workforce for businesses in the peninsula. Whether through
the provision and retention of quality graduates[117]
or higher skills training for employees, our work plays a vital
part in ensuring that the South West is able to secure success
in the economic upturn and compete in the global economy. Again
this will most probably extend beyond the remit of a single LEP
and require a structure to support collaboration between LEPs
to ensure that the needs of all businesses could be supported.
6. Universities have a proven record of facilitating
the creation of enterprise and encouraging entrepreneurship within
the South West. We welcome the opportunity to work with LEPs to
identify the needs of our local communities in terms of making
enterprise flourish, providing opportunities for entrepreneurship
from our staff and students[118]and
supporting spin-out businesses.[119]
It is vital for the commercial interests of our business
partners that this work continues without disruption and, provision
is made for adequate funding at both local and sub-national levels
to be available to ensure that the South West is able to compete
fairly in the national and international market.
7. Universities are experienced and have a strong record
at procuring and managing funding and grants from external organisations.
It is anticipated that universities will have a significant role
to play in generating the most value from the Regional Growth
Fund.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
1. For more information about the economic impact that
our universities have in the South West please see our new report
on "Driving Economic Growth" at: universitiessouthwest.ac.uk/newsampinfo/tabid/122/newsId/244/Default.aspx
2. The South West encompasses a diverse and dynamic area
presenting many distinctive features, socio-economic challenges
and real growth opportunities.
2.1 Although combined, it has the largest area of any English
region, it is the least densely populated (5.2 million). Economically
market towns, smaller settlements and rural areas sit next to
urban clusters and economic activity zones. Agriculture appears
to be more prominent in the centre of the region throughout Devon,
west Somerset and west Dorset, as well as in parts of Gloucestershire.
There is a clear focus on service sectors towards the east of
the region, with smaller pockets around larger cities in the region
and dotted through the other counties. There are stronger concentrations
of manufacturing as an employment sector in the far north of the
region, and to the south of Bristol, including a large band from
east Somerset into central Wiltshire. Employment in public administration,
education and health is fairly widespread across the region, with
particular concentrations apparent in Dorset, Devon and west Gloucestershire.[120]
2.2 Much of the region is characterised by high proportions
(more than 80%) of businesses being micro-enterprises (0-4 employees).[121]
2.3 Low carbon technology is an emerging and increasingly
important sector in the South West. An example of this growing
sector is that, with the longest coastline of any region within
the UK, the peninsula has been designated a Low Carbon Economic
Area (LCEA) in Marine Energy. The Government's recent £1.5
million investment in the development of wave energy technology
for Wave Hub project, will further encourage growing university
and business collaborations in the marine energy field.
In order to ensure that the South West is able to meet its
aspirations in "green" industries through provision
of a qualified workforce, through Universities South West and
a number of regional business and FE partners, SW universities
are currently running a £2.4 million Low Carbon High Skills
project to identify business requirements for higher level skills
training.
An important element of this project is the understanding
that, in order to meet the needs of the growing low carbon sectors,
local universities and FE Colleges were not able to offer the
complete range of employer and employee demand and that the project
necessitated the creation of a sub-national partnership to ensure
those needs are collectively met. It is difficult to address the
multiplicity of skills needs locally without duplication and,
in many cases, the required specialisms are often not available
locally.
2.4 The South West has the second largest Creative Industries
sector in the UK, worth approximately £4 billion and employing
over 65,000 people.
The South West hosts the National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship
(NCGE). NCGE, BIS, South West RDA and the SW Design Forum, Universities
South West and its members have established a Creative Industries
University Enterprise Network (CI-UEN) with pump priming support
from NCGE/BIS and the Knowledge Escalator Project (SWRDA/ERDF).
The CI-UEN's first pilot initiative, led by the Arts University
College Bournemouth, the University of Plymouth and Bath Spa University,
aims to partner mentors from SME design businesses with students
studying design. This will be one of five UENs nationally and
the only one of its kind in the UK focused on the creative industries,
establishing closer links between HEIs and the strong CI business
sector in the region. NCGE will provide £20k to match the
£20k Knowledge Escalator funding.
A number of our HEIs have international reputations as leading
specialists in the creative industries field and there is a strong
established culture of network clustering and collaboration between
business, sector interest groups and universities that extends
across the peninsula.
3. It is early in the formulation stage, but there is
likely to be fragmentation across the region and this may be more
to the benefit of economically active areas over the economically
vulnerable, more rural sectors of the region.
3.1 Somerset and Wiltshire do not have any HEI provision but
have long established links with HEIs across the South West. We
believe it is vital in the interests of the business community
and the local, regional and national economy, for these localites
to retain engagement with Higher Education. Universities and LEPs
must continue to build relationships with partners in those areas
to ensure that localisation does not disadvantage such areas.
3.2 Many universities have campuses that are likely to span
across LEP areas, to give an example the University of Exeter
has a campus in Falmouth, Cornwall. It will be important for universities
who find themselves in such a position, that individual LEPs are
not so different, that working across multi LEP areas leads to
confusion, excessive bureaucracy and duplication of administration.
3.3 There is some danger that over-fragmentation in some parts
of the region which will produce areas that are too small to achieve
the stated objectives and also be too small to facilitate effective
university engagement. Again, there will need to be structures
in place that will ensure that universities are able to effectively
respond across local and sub-national boundaries.
4. Whilst remits for new structures and responsibilities
locally and nationally are unclear, we would not wish to see the
coverage, membership and management of LEPs become too "hard-wired".
It is currently unclear as to how the innovation, sectors and
skills agendas will, for example, be managed by Government at
a national level, and this uncertainty makes it difficult to fully
comment of the role and remit of LEPs at this stage.
5. It is vital for local economies to meet the skills
requirements of their businesses and to recruit and retain graduates
to enhance their skills levels.
5.1 At the end of October 2009 the South West RDA-funded Graduates
for Business project came to a conclusion—and this has led
to localised gaps in provision as staff have been lost from the
region's universities as a result of funding coming to an end.
The project successfully delivered over 700 student and graduate
placements in regional businesses. The project also supported
the regional graduate recruitment service www.gradsouthwest.com
which is now financially sustained by HEIs and South West RDA.
The service currently has over 41,000 registered student and graduate
jobseekers, and c1,700 vacancies and provides a invaluable source
of graduate talent for businesses drawn from the local, sub-national
and national graduate pool. We would like to ensure that such
services are funded to continue supporting the economic success
of the region.
5.2 This year the region has placed over 1,000 subsidised
internships, offered by the universities to businesses to take
on unemployed recent graduates. A significant percentage of which
are in private sector businesses and are leading to longer term
new jobs.
5.3 The University of the West of England (UWE) is offering
a series of five free half day workshops as part of its solutions4recession
scheme. The sessions have been designed to increase attendees'
capabilities in specific areas and will be led by expert practitioners
from Bristol Business School and UWE Careers: the topics are,
New Thinking in Management, Uncovering your Strengths, Finance:
a mystery or a foreign language, Marketing: dispelling myths and
assumptions, Management as Intervention. They are continuing to
develop their offer of support with: increased level of subsidy
for courses; new workshops on "starting up your own business";
the launch of a range of services in Swindon; and an opportunity
for businesses to utilise graduate internships.
5.4 The University College Plymouth St Mark & St John
(Marjon) is working with representatives of Jobcentre Plus to
discuss the possibility of delivering professional and executive
focused job search training. Marjon also hosted a Network South-West
event on 4 September 2009 attended by c 90 businesses with 10
business support exhibitors, who were working to the support businesses
through the economic downturn.
5.5 Bath Spa University has strengthened its relationships
with two major city-wide business support and networking organisations:
Creative Bath and Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). The recent
collaboration with the FSB has included two successful speed-networking
events designed exclusively to promote placements and internships
as a mutually-beneficial way to support businesses whilst providing
work based learning opportunities for university students. Further
activities through this partnership, from sponsoring the FSB's
`Best Employer in Bath' award through to a shared presence at
training events, seminars, careers and enterprise events, were
further strengthened in late 2009 through the co-opting of both
a Bath Spa University student and graduate to the FSB's Bath Branch
Executive Committee.
6. Collaboration between businesses and universities
is mutually supportive and rewarding. Through a mixture of interactions
and partnerships, knowledge transfer and research development
expertise, universities help attract new business, stimulate and
nurture enterprise and support existing businesses to innovate
and prosper.
6.1 The Knowledge Escalator Project is a region-wide knowledge
transfer/knowledge exchange initiative delivered by universities
in the South West aimed at strengthening HEs capacity to engage
with business and provide targeted elements of business support
aligned to the Innovation and Knowledge strand of the EU ERDF
programme. It is part financed by the ERDF Programme 2007-13 securing
£2,224,000 of ERDF investment through the South West RDA
(£1,833,000 under the Competitiveness and Employment programme
and £501,000 under the Convergence Programme).
6.2 Bath Spa University has found the Knowledge Escalator's
funding for implementing an Industry Mentors Programme to be a
significant mechanism for mitigating the fall in demand for certain
business collaborations identified in the "Background"
section above. Within just 10 months, not only have over 50 students
engaged in six-month mentoring partnerships to improve their employability,
but the scheme has also paved the way for graduate placements,
collaborative projects with businesses and access to jobs for
students. Perceived by business as a low-risk means of getting
to know the University, the industry mentors programme is generating
longer-term benefits for both sides.
6.3 The University of Gloucestershire has extended links with
the county's HEI's and Business Link SW in promotion of Graduate
Challenge, and in connection with the Regional Knowledge Escalator
project. The University also delivers the BUG Business Planning
Programme on which Business Link provides support, helping university
staff, students and alumni with an interest in future self-employment
or business creation.
6.4 The Royal Agricultural College and the University of Plymouth,
are working in partnership to help improve the economic performance
and competitiveness of land based industries and rural businesses
across the region. This scheme aims to provide a high quality
knowledge transfer service to rural businesses in the South West,
helps the sector adapt to change, improve profitability and enhance
its sustainability.
6.5 A number of our universities are at the forefront of international
research and work hard at transferring that knowledge to the benefit
of business. Across the South West exciting collaborative projects
are set to encourage STEM led business growth. Central to this
is, the development of clusters of academic and business expertise
through the provision of supported incubation space. The University
of Bath, the University of Bristol and the University of the West
of England have collaborated with public and private sector partners
to create SPark (Bristol and Bath Science Park), which will be
one of the largest science parks in the UK. Over 75,000sq feet
of new high quality technology facilities and delivering 6,000
high quality jobs, SPark will be ideally situated to capture new
investment in the advanced engineering and aerospace sector; stimulating
and energising the existing strong cluster of companies in these
sectors in the wider region.
CONCLUSION
Universities, as in the case of large companies, are complex
entities with interests and expertise and have a global, national,
sub-national/regional and local "reach". It is important
the LEP agenda does not impinge on this wider remit.
It is important that there is an inherent ethos of cross-LEP
collaboration in the formation of this initiative. Over fragmentation
and localism within the region would see some areas disadvantaged,
create layers of bureaucracy and individual negotiation and result
in, at best, a loss of dynamism and efficacy in HE support for
business at this crucial time.
It is vital that the work universities are currently engaged
in continues and administrative transfer is quick and efficient,
with as little disruption as possible. Existing access to funding,
such as the ERDF and ESF, should not be undermined or jeopardized
and new streams of funding, such as the Regional Growth Fund,
are welcomed and would appear to have a direct significance and
application to the work that universities are already carrying
out.
Universities South West, its members and its partners are
committed to providing businesses, students and employees within
the South West with a range of programmes, initiatives and opportunities
that are easy to access and will have a positive impact on raising
the aspirations and capabilities of a strong, sustainable and
balanced competitive knowledge economy.
12 August 2010
115
HEIs in the South West contribute nearly £3 billion to the
local economy and generate approximately 66,000 full time jobs. Back
116
universitiessouthwest.ac.uk/newsampinfo/tabid/122/newsId/244/Default.aspx Back
117
Of the graduates from South West HEIs in 2007-08, some 60% remained
in the region after gaining employment here (South West Observatory). Back
118
74 graduate start ups were established in the South West in 2007-08
(HEFCE). Back
119
To March 2010 the Knowledge Escalator South West project had assisted
58 businesses, initiated 41 "new collaborations", selected
and trained 17 HE non-exec directors, established 180 mentoring
partnerships and awarded 47 Proof of Concept awards. Back
120
South West Observatory-State of the South West 2010 report. Back
121
South West Observatory-FEMA final report 2010. Back
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