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Our mission with Leeds, Yorkshire and the North

An illustration representing how the University of Leeds works with regional partners. Featured is a golden owl, a globe with a location marker on it, the Parkinson clock tower and part of the Leeds town hall clock tower. Learn about the Civic Exchange

Working with our region

Local commitment, lasting impact

We’re working to build a better future for Leeds, Yorkshire and the North. 

Our staff and students make a meaningful contribution to the place we call home. Our research helps solve challenges, and our innovation drives economic and social prosperity.  

But we can only deliver this work through our partnerships. We work with businesses, policymakers, health providers, cultural organisations, communities, the voluntary sector, the public and other universities to improve lives.

The Civic Exchange helps to make that collaboration happen, starting conversations and making connections. We want to strengthen our relationships across the region and form new partnerships to continue this vital work.

Join us. Working together, we can have a positive impact on the people and places around us.

Core themes

Regional networks

We play an active role in major regional networks that bring together universities, businesses and civic organisations to address shared challenges and opportunities.

  • Leeds Anchors Network

    We work alongside 13 of the largest employers in the city to support inclusive growth, local employment and community wellbeing.

  • N8 Research Partnership

    We're part of a group of the most research-intensive universities across the North of England, working at scale on major economic, environmental and societal challenges.

  • Universities Policy Engagement Network (UPEN)

    We co-chair UPEN, a UK-wide network of universities, research institutions, and policy organisations that connects and champions academic policy engagement.

  • White Rose University Consortium

    We collaborate with the University of Sheffield and the University of York to help individuals from all backgrounds to thrive, offering development, careers support and funding.

  • Yorkshire and Humber Policy Engagement and Research Network (Y-PERN)

    We're part of Y-PERN, which brings together researchers, policymakers and wider society to support inclusive, place-based policymaking in Yorkshire.

  • Yorkshire Policy Innovation Partnership (YPIP)

    Bringing together academia, local government and community organisatons, YPIP will explore new ways of working with low-income, marginalised and isolated communities to improve standards of living.

  • Yorkshire Universities

    We work with higher education institutions across the region to influence policy, drive inclusive growth and champion the role of universities.

Work with us

We're interested in partnerships and collaborations to drive our civic mission forward.

Civic Exchange Fellows Karen Burland Clark, Layla Bloom, Chris Warrington and Gary Dymski.