Responding to the announcement made in the Spring Budget of
funding for investment zones, Professor Steve West CBE, President
of Universities UK and Vice-Chancellor of UWE Bristol,
said:
“We welcome the Chancellor’s commitment to investment zones in
the Spring Budget and are optimistic about the pivotal role
universities can play in supporting the government’s plans for
economic growth in the country. Our universities are leading the
way in supporting and working with SMEs across the country giving
local businesses access to state-of-the-art facilities and
support and skills, to grow and innovate, for example through
University Enterprise Zones. This much needed investment will aid
in deepening local ties between universities, SMEs, and support
the upskilling of people in local communities. Universities UK
(UUK) is keen to work with government on implementing its plans
for investment zones around higher education institutions and
look forward to seeing what the future holds.
“Through building collaborative hubs for skills development,
universities can reach out to left behind areas and create
opportunities and jobs for local people which supports the
government’s levelling up agenda. Although this announcement is a
step in the right direction, we continue to urge the government
to further develop initiatives such as degree apprenticeships
and the lifelong loan entitlement as we will need the skilled
graduates to maximise the economic impact of the investment
zones.”
Notes to Editor
