Universities UK is calling on the government to:
- Establish a UEZ in every university in the UK
- Use the UK’s pioneering university sector to support the growth of SMEs (small to medium-sized enterprises) and economic recovery
- Invest in spaces where universities and businesses collaborate
- Create learning and career opportunities in left-behind areas
Universities UK say that in a recent speech, the Secretary of State for the new Department for Science, Innovation and Technology outlined the department’s “singular goal” of leading the UK to science and technology superpower status by 2030. Universities UK (UUK) calls on the government to invest in University Enterprise Zones and use the UK’s pioneering universities to drive SME growth and rebuild the economy.
Universities UK say that since their launch in 2014, UEZs have brought outstanding economic and social benefits, for example, UEZs created in 2019 showed a phenomenal return on investment, generating £4.50 from every £1 of government investment. The University of the West of England’s Future Space SME added £16.9 million to the local economy, whilst Falmouth University’s venture studio, Launchpad leveraged £21 million.
Find out more here.