Hartpury’s contribution to local business growth and regeneration recognised by Research England

Gloucestershire's Hartpury University has been ranked in the top 20 per cent of UK universities for its impact on ‘Local growth and regeneration’ in the third publication of Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF) results released by Research England on September 27.

Hartpury, which celebrated its fifth anniversary as a university just last week, also features in the top quintile for its high engagement with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

KEF covers knowledge exchange (sometimes known as “third mission”) activity and can be used to measure how a provider or institution interfaces with (and brings value to) the world outside academia – contributing to economic growth and levelling up on the way.

Read more: Gloucestershire's Hartpury University hails its ranking in Daily Mail guide

Hartpury’s strong performance underlines the university’s far-reaching, real-world impact that transforms lives and impacts the local and national economy through knowledge exchange activities. The institution was recognised for ‘world leading’ and ‘internationally excellent’ research in the latest round of Research Excellence Framework results (REF 2021).

Earlier this year, it showcased highlights of its staff and student research at the annual Hartpury Research Conference, aptly entitled Making a Difference. This was the first conference run in parallel with the Hartpury Sports Business Hub - another initiative designed to improve links between academia, students, businesses and the community.

As a result, the event welcomed external guests that have engaged with Hartpury students through a variety of real-world knowledge exchange and consultancy projects.

Professor Andy Collop, Vice-Chancellor, Principal and CEO of Hartpury, said: “We’re delighted to have been ranked in the top 20 per cent of UK universities in areas that we have been so focused on during the last few years - local growth and regeneration and working with SMEs.

“We continue to work with our partners across the region whether in local government, schools and education, charitable organisations or business, to find ways in which we can support, collaborate and share knowledge to drive prosperity for all.”

Professor Steve Draper, Academic Dean at Hartpury University added: “We’re committed to finding innovative ways to use knowledge exchange effectively in a way that benefits business and our community. Our goal is to ensure that Hartpury staff and students can use their expertise to solve complex challenges and deliver economic and social benefits.”

During the last year, Hartpury has progressed with the building of a new University Learning Hub, improved car parking facilities and worked alongside its partners at the Forest of Dean District Council, Cinderford Town Council, Mark Harper MP, and the GFirst LEP, on its wider Levelling Up Fund vision.

Regionally, the Fund is being used to introduce new health, enterprise and aspiration opportunities as well as repurposing vacant buildings, developing leisure facilities and targeting pockets of deprivation to encourage a pathway to higher education.

As the largest employer in the Forest of Dean, Hartpury is a key stakeholder in the Forest Economic Partnership. Hartpury also works closely with the Gloucestershire Federation of Small Businesses, the Cheltenham Chamber of Commerce and networking organisation Circle2Success.

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Recent accolades for Hartpury University have included triple Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), as well as being ranked 2nd in the UK for Student Support and 4th in the UK for Teaching Excellence in the inaugural Daily Mail University Guide 2024.

In The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024, Hartpury was ranked 6th in the UK for Teaching Quality and 14th in the UK for Student Experience. In the National Student Survey (NSS), Hartpury University was ranked as the number one university in England in the ‘Academic Support’ category.