How universities are breaking down barriers to opportunity
The launch of our second report highlights the uniquely impactful way in which universities act as engines of social mobility in their local areas, breaking down barriers and providing opportunities for the communities that need them the most.
The Breaking Down Barriers Commission will be launching further findings and recommendations at the 2024 Labour Party Conference – after a period of consultation with the education sector and wider society.
The Breaking Down Barriers Commission, as part of its comprehensive advocacy work in this general election, is equipping candidates with the knowledge of business and university-led solutions and ideas, part of the process of building new partnerships between leaders in industry, education and politics that are focused on dismantling barriers to opportunity.
5th June 2024
REPORT HIGHLIGHTS
PRODUCING SKILLED GRADUATES TO STEP INTO EMPLOYER CAREERS
Universities across Britain play a pivotal role in driving individual opportunities for their graduates, particularly those from under-resourced and underrepresented backgrounds - contributing significantly to the promotion of social mobility and the wider growth of Britain.
DEVELOPING STUDENTS TO BE THE NEXT GENERATION OF ENTREPRENEURS AND SUPPORTING LOCAL/REGIONAL SMES GROWTH
Purpose Coalition Universities provide the cultivating environments that enable their students and wider communities to innovate and create their own brand new businesses. More widely, for small and medium-sized businesses, so often it is a local university that provides the advice and support that is crucial to enable to not just get established but to then thrive and grow.
DRIVING LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND NATIONAL ECONOMIC GROWTH PROVIDING SKILLED TALENT FOR BOTH PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTORS
Universities across the sector are pivotal in driving economic opportunity throughout Britain, leveraging their extensive reach and impact to foster growth and prosperity. With over a quarter of a million jobs directly supported and a staggering £130 billion contribution to the UK economy1, their role as economic engines and strategic talent ‘supply chains’ cannot be overstated.
PROVIDING RESEARCH AND INNOVATION THAT CREATES NEW GROWTH SECTORS OF THE FUTURE
Collaborative research projects, technology transfer initiatives, and knowledge exchange programmes are the conduits through which academic expertise is translated into tangible real-world applications, driving innovation and economic impact.
UNIVERSITIES AS MAJOR EMPLOYERS IN THEIR OWN RIGHT, SUPPORTING LIVES AND LIVELIHOODS IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL ECONOMIES
Universities themselves are also huge employers within the communities they operate and offer a wide variety of job opportunities. The universities featured in this report employ over 40,000 people and are often the biggest employers in their local region.