On Wednesday 28 October, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, John Healey, presented the Autumn Budget 2026. Amidst a wide range of measures, the Budget 2026 confirmed that Government will devolve further spending powers to regional mayors, backed by a dedicated £1.5 billion borrowing facility to drive growth and prosperity in their regions. A £285 million …
Areas of Research Interest will soon be published for West Yorkshire Combined Authority that will share its priority evidence needs with the research community. Yorkshire Universities has been working in partnership with West Yorkshire Combined Authority to develop pilot Areas of Research Interest (ARI) that set out key policy questions where the Combined Authority would …
Yorkshire and Humber Councils has committed £150,000 over three years to support the next phase of the Yorkshire and Humber Policy Engagement and Research Network (Y-PERN). The investment will support the continued strategic coordination of Y-PERN, and the widening and deepening of the relationships between policymakers and analysis, data, and evidence in the region. As …
Steph examines what greater re-industrialisation and devolution could mean for Yorkshire, highlighting the region’s existing business strengths and the opportunities for policy makers, businesses and universities to work together to drive economic growth.
Today (Thursday 10 September), Universities UK launched the Future Jobs Roadmap, setting out seven recommendations to boost graduate employability across the country, encourage growth and meet the UK’s future skills needs. The roadmap responds to the growing challenges facing both young people and employers, drawing on insights from 13 roundtables involving 200 employers, 30 universities, …
Professor Peter Slee, Vice-Chancellor of Leeds Beckett University, has been appointed as the new Chair of Yorkshire Universities (YU). From today (Tuesday 1 September), Professor Slee takes up the role of YU Chair, bringing his significant experience in senior leadership roles in higher education, and expertise in strategic planning and education policy, to lead YU …
Peter O’Brien, Jane Robinson and Helen Turner argue that as devolution moves to the centre of government, universities need to work more closely with regional mayors and authorities to shape place-based growth.
Calderdale Council has worked with students from across West Yorkshire to develop new ideas for improving road safety and everyday journeys across Calderdale. Senior leaders from Calderdale Council and university students from across the region came together in Halifax for the final stage of a project exploring how people think, feel and behave on Calderdale’s …
Dr Peter O’Brien, YU Executive DirectorDrawing on his personal and professional experience, Dr Peter O’Brien explores Andy Burnham’s vision for government and reflects on what this might mean for both Yorkshire and the higher education sector. The next leader of the Labour Party, Andy Burnham, has set out his principles and vision for how, when …
John reflects on the role of higher education in a fast-changing skills policy landscape, arguing that Local Skills Improvement Plans offer an opportunity to better connect employer needs with learner experience. Drawing on Yorkshire Universities LSIP roundtables, he makes the case for a more coherent skills system with graduates placed firmly at its centre.