The University will work together with the group across the UK’s 11 core cities to help the UK prosper through broadening research and development, creating high-skilled jobs and levelling-up the UK’s nations and regions outside of London. 

The 11 cities, which include Leeds, Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester, Glasgow and Belfast, already deliver 26 percent of the UK economy and represent almost 40 percent of all UK university students. 

In a joint declaration to government ministers, the University and Core Cities UK partners have outlined the introduction of City Innovation Partnerships (CIPs), a Cities Trade Package and a new UK Urban Trade and Investment Strategy to help reposition the UK internationally. 

The declaration, published today on the Core Cities UK website, also identifies the need for local leaders to have greater flexibility in the delivery of skills, employment and job creation programmes. 

Professor Malcolm Todd, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Leeds Trinity University, said: “We are proud to be working with local councils and universities across the UK to develop and enhance the skills and employment opportunities available to people. Following the COVID-19 outbreak, our partnerships are stronger and more important than ever. 

“The Core Cities UK declaration outlines how by working together, we can harness our combined power, strengthen employment and skills in city regions, and enhance the wider economy.”

Councillor Judith Blake, Chair of Core Cities UK and Leader of Leeds City Council, said: “This is a very challenging time for both universities and our cities, but we must start to plan for a better future. Our core cities and their universities each have distinct industrial and research strengths. They also have enormous potential to generate innovation-led economic growth to benefit the towns and communities in their wider regions. But we need government to work with us to realise that potential.” 

She added: “As the UK continues to explore new global markets and opportunities post-Brexit, we also want to take advantage of our cities’ and institutions’ growing reputation as major hubs for innovation and research excellence.” 

Core Cities UK is an alliance of 11 cities - Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham and Sheffield. Its mission is to unlock the full potential of city regions to create a stronger, fairer economy and society.