Universities pledge their support to powering the Midlands Engine

SIX universities have pledged their commitment to the success of the Midlands Engine by collaborating on efforts to drive productivity and economic growth through skills, innovation and enterprise.

Birmingham City University, Coventry University, Nottingham Trent University, University of Derby, University of Lincoln and the University of Wolverhampton have collectively launched Midlands Enterprise Universities – a partnership which combines their research, expertise and facilities in order to further increase growth and prosperity across the region.
 
The new partnership offers the Midlands Engine a powerful resource with which to meet its ambitious objectives for developing higher level skills, future talent and innovation requirements. Work will also concentrate on further developing the employability and entrepreneurship of students.
 
Professor Cliff Allan, vice-chancellor at Birmingham City University said: “The government have made it clear they see the Midlands Engine at the heart of economic growth and prosperity in this country and universities have a significant contribution to make to the skills, research and innovation that will drive this.
 
“The creation of Midlands Enterprise Universities is a major step forward in uniting the east and west of our region and ensuring higher education institutions support increased productivity, wealth creation and job opportunities right across the Midlands.
 
“Our collective aim is to contribute to Midlands Engine productivity and to support and stimulate innovation in the Midlands’ supply chains. Combining our work with business and employers and our respective local communities positions us perfectly to provide the spark that will really kick the Engine into gear.”

TheBusinessDesk.com and EY is currently running a new survey which could help to form the agenda for the new era.

We are asking our readers in both the East and West Midlands for your opinions on how the various bodies will collaborate, what the main issues they are likely to face, whether the existing infrastructure is capable to meeting requirements, what impact HS2 will play on the overall plan and who would be your choice for the important role of mayor.

It asks whether enough is being done to develop skills, whether more help should be given to encourage exports and fundamentally, does the region have a robust and balanced economy.

The survey can be completed here

Sir John Peace, chairman of Midlands Engine, said: “I am pleased to see this new collaboration between the region’s universities which further adds to the spirit of partnership and unity being developed across the Midlands Engine region. Their aims align closely with the Midlands Engine ambitions to support sector growth, improve productivity and boost the region’s economy.”

 
Midlands Enterprise Universities will focus on boosting the Health, Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering, Transport Technologies, Creative Digital and Design and Agrifood and Drink industries – all priorities within the Midlands Engine region.

Support will concentrate on:
•         Improving skills through apprenticeships and work based learning alongside existing degree programmes.
•         Providing a talent pipeline through work experience packages tailored to employer and student needs
•         Delivering programmes of collaborative research and innovation support to address the development of new products, processes and services
•         Providing commercial services support to address skills development needs and to tackle organisation issues.

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Elsewhere, Coventry and Warwickshire council leaders, together with its two universities, have said the area’s interests must be protected following the vote to leave the EU.

The various representatives put their name to a document saying policy makers, businesses and university researchers were committed to supporting initiatives such as the Midlands Engine and Midlands Innovation and that the economic and political settlement that follows the referendum must not just sustain those new opportunities for growth, but provide a framework for them to thrive and prosper.

“Coventry and Warwickshire is the home of a great many global companies, internationally renowned researcher organisations, and talented people from around the world who serve in hospitals, laboratories, and businesses,” it said.

“Our universities add enormously to our international reputation and our ability to attract international investment and global partnerships that bring economic growth.

“We now call on those who will negotiate our future economic and political relationships to understand and honour what we have done to create and sustain growth in our region, and to give us a future framework that enables us to build on that.”

Signing the statement are: Prof Stuart Croft, Vice-Chancellor and President, University of Warwick; Cllr George Duggins, Leader, Coventry City Council; Prof John Latham, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer, Coventry University; and Cllr Izzi Seccombe, Leader, Warwickshire County Council