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BNU joins other UK unis in vow to help region bounce back stronger from Covid-19

BNU joins other UK unis in vow to help region bounce back stronger from Covid-19

Buckinghamshire New University, other UK universities, employers, and local leaders are working together to create thousands of local jobs as the recovery from the pandemic gathers pace.

New research published today by Universities UK (UUK), ‘Universities and the UK’s economic recovery: an analysis of future impact’, which was compiled by the National Centre for Entrepreneurship in Education (NCEE), predicts that over the next five years universities in the South East will:

  • Provide support to businesses and charities worth almost £2.4 billion.
  • Give 8,000 years’ worth of upskilling and training to businesses and charities.
  • Help 1,750 new businesses and charities to be formed.
  • Train 18,000 nurses, 6,000 medics, 26,000 teachers.

The research is published as UUK launches #GettingResults - a campaign to put universities at the heart of the economic and social recovery - with a renewed commitment from universities to do even more to reach out to new partners locally and nationally and deliver even greater impact than currently estimated.

Professor Gavin Brooks, Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Buckinghamshire New University, is Chair of the Buckinghamshire Skills Advisory Panel, a county-wide group charged by Government to ensure that the skills taught in universities, schools and colleges match what local employers need for their businesses to thrive.

The Skills Advisory Panel (SAP) brings together local employers and education providers to address the county’s skills challenges, which currently include helping people who have lost their jobs as a consequence of Covid-19 to retrain or transfer their existing skills to another sector.

Professor Gavin Brooks said: "I’m proud to be Chair of the Bucks SAP at this critically important time, when many employers and employees will be faced with difficult challenges and issues as the county emerges from the Covid-19 lockdown. Currently, there are real concerns about the business closures and redundancies that could hit Bucks, particularly in the aviation, hospitality, leisure and entertainment industries. That’s why we’re joining forces across the county to identify how people who lose jobs as a consequence of Covid-19 can be retrained, or transfer their existing skills to another sector. I’ll be bringing my experience of working in both industry and higher education to ensure that the SAP does all it can to help boost the county’s economic prospects."

A new report by Buckinghamshire Local Enterprise Partnership (Bucks LEP) and Buckinghamshire Skills Hub recognises a strong collaborative culture between the county’s education institutions and employers.

The first Buckinghamshire Local Skills Report published in April provided an analysis of Buckinghamshire’s skills and employment needs and identified the priorities for public investment and set out an action plan for skills development with the county.

The skills of BNU graduates will also have an important role to play in the future success of businesses and sectors during the Covid-19 recovery process.

Professor Brooks added added: “Universities in the South East are very much open for business and want to develop even closer links with industry and charities. Our students, staff, researchers, and graduates have so much to offer. We must now ensure that our local employers and partners are getting the most out of what our universities can provide during this challenging process of recovery.”

Professor Julia Buckingham CBE, Universities UK’s President, said: "By working closely with their partners, including local government and employers, universities will play a vital role in the UK's post- recovery. Together, they can contribute significantly to future economic success and improve lives. Moving forward it is important that employers fully take advantage of universities’ support and develop productive relationships so the region can bounce back stronger from the pandemic.”

Find out more about Universities UK’s #GettingResults campaign www.universitiesuk.ac.uk