The agreement is aimed at working together to drive innovation, increase educational opportunities and business growth, improve skills, and attract new national and international investment into the region. 

The vision behind the new three-year agreement is to build on existing achievements and partnerships to tackle regional challenges and ensure that collaboration aligns with the West Yorkshire Local Growth Plan.  

Working collaboratively with the Leeds City Region is one of the core elements of Leeds Trinity’s 2021-28 strategy, aiming to increase our influence and impact as an anchor institution. 

In addition to bringing opportunities for our learners, Leeds Trinity will collaborate with businesses around research and knowledge exchange to help them innovate; engage with local agencies to build economic development and productivity; and play a part in forming new businesses and meeting skills needs. 

The other institutions joining Leeds Trinity in the WYCA partnership, under the umbrella of Yorkshire Universities, are Leeds Arts University, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds Conservatoire, University of Bradford, The University of Huddersfield, University of Leeds, University of York, and York St. John University. 

West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin said: “Central to the success of our Local Growth Plan, our universities attract talent, power innovation and help local businesses to grow.   Through this partnership, we’ll oversee the delivery of new innovation funding - turning bright ideas into good jobs and real investment for local communities.   Together, we’ll focus on: regional innovation and economic growth; skills and employment; attracting investment; and addressing complex challenges.” 

Leeds Trinity’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Jayne Mitchell said: “We are proud of our Yorkshire roots and alongside our partner institutions we play a key role in driving economic growth for the region, delivering a skills pipeline to support our businesses and industries, and being a partner of choice to enable innovation.  

“As a career-led university, we understand the value of collaboration with businesses and are dedicated to building partnerships that deliver real, mutual benefits. We look forward to working with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Mayor Tracy Brabin and our fellow Higher Education institutions to support the ambitious plans for the future of the region.” 

The partnership will collaborate to achieve the following outcomes aligned to the West Yorkshire Local Growth Plan: 

• Harness the assets and capabilities of our regional universities to widen and deepen innovation, boost productivity, and foster sustainable economic growth.  

• Develop a region where lifelong learning, creativity, and innovation thrive.  

• Elevate West Yorkshire’s profile, harness global connections, and forge new partnerships.  

• Connect regional expertise and assets to enable effective action to address cross-cutting challenges and opportunities for the region, including health and wellbeing, sustainability, and inclusion. 

• Establish West Yorkshire as an internationally recognised Innovation Centre of Excellence. 

• Promote inclusion and widening access to higher education to ensure that all residents, particularly those from disadvantaged or underrepresented backgrounds, can benefit from educational and employment opportunities across West Yorkshire.  

• Support the development of high-level skills aligned with regional needs, including across priority sectors such as Digital and Technologies, Financial and Professional Services, Health and Life Sciences, Creative Industries, Advanced Manufacturing, and Green Economy.  

• Increase graduate retention by establishing pathways into local careers, freelancing, entrepreneurship, and leadership, retaining talent in West Yorkshire’s economy. 

Any organisations wishing to find out more about strategic partnerships with Leeds Trinity University, including developing skills pipelines, getting academic insight into solving problems, supporting and developing your workforce or helping your business to grow with knowledge exchange partnerships, can find out more on our website.