Experts, regional leaders and representatives from Councils, Mayoral Combined Authorities, Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs), and Government Departments and Agencies, will meet today to consider the growing impact of the cost-of-living crisis, and how best increase prosperity in Yorkshire and the Humber.
The inaugural Yorkshire and Humber Policy Engagement and Research Network (Y-PERN) conference takes place at the University of Leeds on the 19th and 20th January 2023. Research England has awarded £3.9m, to a consortium led by Yorkshire Universities, to establish Y-PERN in partnership with Yorkshire and Humber Councils, West Yorkshire Combined Authority, South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, Hull and East Yorkshire LEP, and York and North Yorkshire LEP.
Y-PERN will add value to existing collaborations. Academic researchers will work with policymakers to generate and interpret economic, social and environmental data and evidence.
Dr Peter O’Brien, Executive Director of Yorkshire Universities, said: “This is the first opportunity, under the banner of Y-PERN, that we have been able to come together to discuss the key issues facing our region, and to define the interventions that will grow and sustain the economy.
“This conference will illustrate how world-leading research taking place in Yorkshire’s universities is being applied directly in the search for practical solutions to the problems faced by growing numbers of people, businesses and communities in the region.”
Notes to Editors
Yorkshire Universities has a shared commitment to strengthen the contribution of universities and higher education institutions to the economic, social and civic well-being of people and places in Yorkshire. There are an estimated 15,900 academics based in the twelve member institutions of Yorkshire Universities, which are: Leeds Arts University; Leeds Conservatoire; Leeds Beckett University; Leeds Trinity University; Sheffield Hallam University; University of Bradford; University of Huddersfield; University of Hull; University of Leeds; University of Sheffield; University of York; and York St John University.
www.yorkshireuniversities.ac.uk
@YorkshireUnis
Y-PERN is a novel network-based approach to inclusive and place-based academic policy engagement and research. Led a team of expert Policy Fellows, located across all parts of Yorkshire and the Humber, Y-PERN will play a critical role in fulfilling the commitment made in the Memorandum of Understanding between Yorkshire Universities (YU) and Yorkshire and Humber Councils (YHC) to work closer together to identify and implement actions and solutions to some of the pressing economic opportunities and challenges facing the region.
www.yorkshireuniversities.ac.uk/y-pern
@Y_PERN_
Research England shapes healthy, dynamic research and knowledge exchange in England’s universities. It distributes over £2 billion to universities in England every year; works to understand their strategies, capabilities and capacity; and supports and challenges universities to create new knowledge, strengthen the economy, and enrich society. Research England is part of UK Research and Innovation.
www.ukri.org/councils/research-england/
@ResEngland
Contact: Dr Peter O’Brien, Executive Director, Yorkshire Universities
