After discussing the impact of our members’ contribution to their communities at the Labour Party Conference, we are pleased to say that GuildHE institutions have performed exceptionally well in the local growth and regeneration metric in the fourth Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF). Just under 50% of the GuildHE institutions included in the KEF, received ‘very high’ or ‘high’ engagement with their local regions through growth, development and regeneration activities.

Gold coloured bar chart with arrow on upward trajectory

GuildHE institutions are embedded in their places, regions and communities with strong relationships with local government, businesses and partners. These higher education providers have consistently produced good results for regional growth in the framework and have again demonstrated their prime position to support the government’s aims to boost regional economies.

The institutions that have achieved strong results are across the full gamut of vocations GuildHE represents including creative arts and design, teacher training, music and performance, agriculture and food security, health, social care, policing and sport. These results show that this excellent practice is having a demonstrable impact on a diversity of sectors, industries and professions. This strong link between vocational diversity and high-quality regional development activity is evidence of the powerful regional impact these institutions have on both economic and social development and growth.

Additionally, a third of GuildHE members achieved high engagement results for the metric on graduate start-ups and continuing professional development. This evidence of good practice in delivering innovative new business, lifelong learning and a diversity of skills to regions across the UK, shows the capability of these providers to quickly and efficiently engage with their local communities to deliver the government’s aim to tackle regional inequalities and inclusively grow the economy. 

Some notable successes from individual members

  • Arts University Bournemouth had very high results in local growth and regeneration and graduate start-ups, continuing professional development
  • Arts University Plymouth achieved very high results in local growth and regeneration and high results in graduate start-ups and continuing professional development
  • Harper Adams University returned very high results for working with business and high results for local growth and regeneration
  • The Place/London Contemporary Dance School, Bishop Grosseteste University and Falmouth University achieved very high engagement with local growth and regeneration
  • Norwich University of the Arts returned high results for continuing professional development and graduate start-ups
  • Royal Agricultural University has returned very high graduate start-ups and continuing professional development and high results for working with the public sector and public and community engagement
  • Royal Central School of Speech and Drama has achieved very high results for continuing professional development and graduate start-ups
  • St Mary’s University, Twickenham has returned high outcomes in engaging IP (intellectual property) and commercialisation of research outputs and working with business
  • University of Worcester has returned high results for their public and community engagement
  • University of Winchester has returned high results for local growth & regeneration, graduate start-ups and continuing professional development
  • GuildHE Research members: University of Cumbria, has achieved very high results for graduate start-ups and continuing professional development and Southampton Solent University also received very high results for graduate start-ups and continuing professional development

We’ll be showcasing more specific members’ activities in this area over the coming weeks.