This blog was written by Professor Dave Petley (Vice-Chancellor), Professor Kevin Kerrigan (Deputy Vice-Chancellor), Sarah Duckering (Executive Director – Research, Knowledge Exchange and Commercialisation) at the University of Hull.
The realisation of devolution for Hull and East Yorkshire, and for Greater Lincolnshire, with the election of inaugural Mayors on 1 May marks a critical turning point for the region.
We have witnessed the impact of Combined Authorities across the UK, where they have fostered greater cohesion and a shared vision – essential to enhancing regional profile, delivering economic growth, and attracting inward investment.
Universities have a pivotal role to play in realising these mutually interdependent ambitions. Our ability to create new knowledge, generate evidence, and innovate across disciplines and sectors means we are essential partners in the success of devolution.
Universities are full of people motivated to address the most significant challenges facing society. We are curious, driven to experimentation and discovery, interconnected and eager to create new ideas and approaches. We are natural collaborators, and our relationships span the globe, but our work has deep roots in our local communities. Through our teaching, we strive to instil in our students the desire to question, collaborate and explore; equipping the next generation with the knowledge and skills to make a difference, wherever and however they choose to apply them.
The role of universities in providing a highly skilled graduate talent pipeline and executive education / CPD options for employers should not be overlooked. We recognise the need to build a more integrated skills system, for example by increasing collaboration with Further Education Colleges and with private training organisations to address the needs of the region.
We are keen to increase the role that we play in the cities, towns and communities within our regions. We cannot lose sight of the need to work to address local challenges, which vary according to location, history, and socio-economic context. Universities act as ‘anchor institutions’, making substantial contributions to civic ecosystems while providing continuity and leadership outside of political cycles. We must ensure that we are accessible, aligned with other anchor institutions (such as NHS trusts) and that through our activities we enable our staff and students to demonstrate a positive impact.
The Humber is the UK’s most important Energy Estuary (a designation based on our prominence in fuel refining and electricity generation), which creates complex challenges for both civic partners and the industrial base. How can we deliver a thriving decarbonised industrial cluster, whilst protecting and growing jobs, in a complex and highly-charged political environment? Through our research and our expertise in translating innovation from the laboratory to real-world impact, the University of Hull plays an important role in addressing this question, and by doing so we demonstrate how we can work with the devolved authority and other partners to bring positive benefits to the region, making this area a national and global exemplar of energy security and sustainable growth.
At present, there are barriers to growth in the lack of technical interventions to solve critical issues and in the paucity of skilled people in key areas clear. But universities are leaders in both of these areas, and as such are uniquely positioned to address such barriers. By working closely with industrial partners, the University of Hull is responding to technological challenges that limit growth. For example, we are working with Siemens Gamesa, to develop new blade designs and to improve manufacturing processes for offshore wind turbines. Our work helps to unlock the economic benefits from the offshore wind sector and is creating new job opportunities for our local communities whilst also attracting and retaining talented people for our region. These interventions support industries to innovate and progress and to secure the benefits for our region. Each year thousands of graduates leave the University with the skills required to support the regional economy; In 2021/22 the University of Hull generated a total economic impact of £694m GVA and supported 9,260 jobs in the Humber region[1].
A thriving regional industrial base requires more than just technological intervention. Y-PERN has demonstrated the value of bringing academics and policy makers together. Evaluation, evidence-based approaches and peer review are standard approaches within the academic toolkit. These strengths are particularly valuable in a devolved context, where impartial advice and long-term thinking can help policy move from ambition to action.
To be effective in delivering local impact, national government attention is often needed. We engage with government at all levels. Most recently, researchers from our Energy and Environment Institute provided evidence to the Flood Resilience in England Inquiry, sharing insights on resilient responses to increasing risks from extreme weather, rising sea levels and evolving flood hazards. Building on experience generated over 20 years of activity, our ability to influence national action will have a direct impact on the lives of those in our region and, by working with our local civic partners, we can be the first to adopt and implement solutions.
The University of Hull already works successfully with a variety of community partners, to identify and prioritise challenges, and to co-create solutions. Our involvement with the Humber Violence Prevention Partnership combines our expertise in victimology, restorative justice and community safety to develop targeted interventions to both make our communities safer and reduce the likelihood of young people engaging in knife crime.
We attract investment and global partners into our region, driving growth and powering enterprise. We are building on our strengths in health and medical technologies, net-zero, logistics and AI and collaborate with others to ensure that the Humber innovation ecosystem is connected and productive. The additional opportunities of working with the Yorkshire and pan-Humber combined authorities creates unique potential to raise our collective ambition and attract substantial new investment into our region.
With innovation and investment comes the demand for knowledge and skills, and this is perhaps the most critical element that our work with the devolved authority can address. To secure growth, the Combined Authority needs to ensure that it can meet the skills requirements of employers, and that opportunities are available to the local population.
Future skills needs will extend far beyond those typically achieved through a standard university undergraduate or postgraduate offering. Successfully responding to skills challenges will mean bringing employers, skills providers and investment together to create a comprehensive regional skills pipeline. And this is where universities must lead – from short courses and CPD to applied research and policy innovation. A priority must be to develop and deliver a comprehensive, long-term skills strategy, which can only be realised through shared vision, idea sharing and deep collaboration.
If universities like ours do not step forward, its region risks being left behind. Devolution, if delivered well, puts control back into the hands of those who stand to benefit most. Through a shared platform we can deliver a vision and capability designed to meet regional needs and aspirations that offer a more successful, resilient, and inclusive future.
Y-PERN would like to thank Dave Petley, Kevin Kerrigan and Sarah Duckering for sharing their blog with us.
[1] University of Hull Impact Study 2023
