The University of Leeds has launched a new initiative aimed at strengthening partnerships and tackling key regional challenges across Yorkshire.
Announced at an event at Cloth Hall Court in Leeds city centre, the Civic Exchange will bring together researchers, policymakers and community partners to better coordinate existing work and develop future opportunities focused on issues such as health, economic growth and social inclusion.
Civic leaders from organisations including Leeds City Council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) were among those supporting the launch.
Professor Shearer West, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Leeds, said the event marked a step change in how the University works with partners.
“We are reaffirming our commitment to the place we call home with the launch of the Civic Exchange,” she said.
“This is a new initiative designed to enable greater impact from regional partnerships.
“It will provide a clear way into the University of Leeds, helping organisations navigate our expertise while strengthening collaboration and creating a more unified regional approach to addressing common challenges.”
Chaired by Professor Nick Plant, the University’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor: Research & Innovation, the launch featured a discussion panel including Mariana Paxton, Deputy Chief Executive at Leeds City Council; Dr Peter O'Brien, Executive Director of Yorkshire Universities; Alison Lowe, Deputy Mayor of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority; and Nick Barley, Director of the National Poetry Centre.
“This is a new initiative designed to enable greater impact from regional partnerships.
Dr Peter O’Brien, Executive Director of Yorkshire Universities, welcomed the focus on partnership working, highlighting the importance of aligning skills and research and innovation with regional priorities. He said: “The Civic Exchange represents an important step in deepening collaboration across West Yorkshire. By bringing together the strengths of our universities with the priorities of our communities, we can enhance existing partnerships and deliver meaningful, long-term impact for people and places across the region.”
The National Poetry Centre is a charity founded by the Poet Laureate and University of Leeds Professor of Poetry Simon Armitage, which aims to establish a world-class cultural facility celebrating poets and poetry, based in the city.
Nick Barley, Director of the National Poetry Centre, also backed the initiative, pointing to the role of cultural and civic institutions in building vibrant and resilient places. He said: “Initiatives like the Civic Exchange recognise the vital contribution that cultural and civic organisations make to the life of a region. By improving coordination and creating stronger connections between partners, we can unlock new opportunities, support creativity and innovation, and help shape places where communities can truly thrive.”
The Civic Exchange will act as a central platform to connect activity across the University, share best practice and establish a network of Civic Exchange Fellows to champion civic engagement inside and outside the University. It is designed to make collaboration more visible, strategic and accessible for external partners.
The launch builds on the University’s broader ambition to take a more coordinated, challenge-led approach to civic engagement, aligning teaching, research and partnerships with regional needs and opportunities.
This includes working with health organisations, local government and industry to translate research into real-world impact and equip students with the skills, experience and opportunities needed to thrive, contribute to the regional economy, and make a meaningful impact in their communities. In doing so, it reinforces the University’s role as a key civic partner across Leeds and the wider region.
Further information
For more information, please contact the University of Leeds press office at pressoffice@leeds.ac.uk.
Picture credit: Mark Bickerdike.