University-Industry Relationships Facilitated: The Case of Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership Growth Hub

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Our newly released report discusses how business support offered by regional universities is facilitated by a local partner, the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP) Growth Hub.

The report aims to demonstrate how close links between regional economic development bodies and anchor institutions, such as universities, helps to support businesses in the GBSLEP area.

The in-depth analysis of GBSLEP Growth Hub data from October 2019 to July 2021 shows the following results:

  • Between October 2019 and July 2021, 1428 businesses contacted GBSLEP Growth Hub for support.
  • GBSLEP Growth Hub referred 396 of those to regional universities (Aston University, Birmingham City University, Coventry University, Keele University, Staffordshire University, University College Birmingham, University of Birmingham, University of Warwick, University of Wolverhampton).
  • The majority of referrals (81.6%) were made to specific business support programmes within these universities. The others were referred to general university business support units.
  • University business support programmes to which GBSLEP Growth Hub referred business can be categorized as financial, non-technical or technical support for business growth; the use of facilities and equipment; support for apprenticeships or professional development for new or existing employees; and utilising graduate and post-graduate knowledge for businesses.

This report was developed by Freya Williams as part of a summer internship programme at WMREDI, University of Birmingham and Juliane Schwarz and Alice Pugh whilst on secondment to the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP).

Download the report.

Visit the project page.


This blog was written by Dr Juliane Schwarz, Research Fellow, City-REDI, University of Birmingham.

Disclaimer:
The views expressed in this analysis post are those of the authors and not necessarily those of City-REDI or the University of Birmingham.

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