University recognised in Government ‘Future Cities’ report

The University of Liverpool has been recognised in a recent Government report on graduate mobility in the UK.

The Government Office for Science report entitled ‘Future of Cities: Graduate Mobility and Productivity’ was published amid concerns that many of the UK’s graduates move to London at the expense of other regions.

Involving cities, universities, employers and national government departments, the’ Future Cities’ report explores the evidence on graduate mobility and highlights practical solutions to improve local economies and national productivity.

Driving the local labour market

A section on Liverpool cites the University’s Materials Innovation Factory (MIF), Virtual Engineering Centre (VEC) and Centre for Global Eco-Innovation as positive examples helping drive the local labour market in Liverpool.

The £68 million MIF, which is expected to open in 2017, was used as an example of increasing productivity for global business as well as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The VEC’s project work with Bentley to design a new SUV was cited in helping to create 457 new jobs with partner organisations and supply chain, including many newly developed roles resulting from the new technologies deployed. The report noted VEC’s lead in supporting industry, increasing productivity and developing graduate work experience within the region.

Ambitious R&D

Eco-innovation and SME productivity in Liverpool was also mentioned in the report – the Centre for Global Eco-Innovation’s (CGE) work was cited in engaging with over 300 regional enterprises to undertake ambitious environmental R&D projects.  The CGE was noted for its invaluable work for exposing post graduate and undergraduate students to the commercial realities of R&D.

Sarah Jackson, Director of Research, Partnerships and Innovation said:  “This project was a great opportunity to showcase some of our flagship projects which connect businesses, our cutting-edge research and talented graduates.”

This is a crucial part of our civic role as these connections help businesses innovate, grow and create jobs in the Liverpool City Region. Building on the successes of MIF, the VEC and the Centre for Global Eco-Innovation is a key priority in the new University strategy.”

More information

The full report including the Liverpool section on pages 46-48 can be viewed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/510421/gs-16-4-future-of-cities-graduate-mobility.pdf.

To find out more about the centres mentioned in the Future Cities report, please visit the following websites:

Materials Innovation Factory: https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/materials-innovation-factory/

Virtual Engineering Centre: http://www.virtualengineeringcentre.com/

Centre for Global Eco-Innovation: http://www.cgeinnovation.org/

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