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Loughborough Area of InnovationUniversity-led growth; exemplar implementation of the Industrial Strategy: Building a Britain fit for the future
Towards success“Business, academia, civil society and the government
must engage together, bringing their expertise and entrepreneurial spirit, to drive us all towards success.”
Industrial Strategy White Paper
Inclusive growth“…economic growth that creates opportunity for all segments of
the population and distributes the dividends of increased prosperity, both in monetary and non-monetary terms, fairly across society.”
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Areas of Innovation“…places that are designed and curated to attract entrepreneurial-minded people, skilled talent, knowledge-intensive businesses and investments, by developing and combining a set of infrastructural,
institutional, scientific, technological, educational and social assets together with value added services, thus enhancing sustainable
economic development and prosperity with and for the community.”International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation
Economic clusters“The most knowledge-intensive jobs, industries and research are
increasingly concentrated in particular economic clusters… We will identify and work with a number of emerging clusters to
deepen their foundations, identify and remove barriers to growth and strengthen supply chains.”
Industrial Strategy White Paper
ContentsForeword 01
Rt Hon Greg Clark MP
Executive summary 02
Realising growth 03 Maximising impact 04 Building sound foundations 04 Proposed way forward 04 Agenda for action 05
Loughborough Area of Innovation – Key diagram 06
The Grand Challenges 08
Implementing the Industrial Strategy 11
Ideas 12
People 14
Infrastructure 16
Business environment 18
Place 20
Annex A: Membership of the Steering Group 22
Annex B: Reference and source documents 22
Annex C: Details of projects included in the 23 Key diagram on page 06
IntroductionWe are pleased to present this document, outlining an exciting vision for the Loughborough Area of Innovation that will drive growth in the local area and across the country. This is a model approach with great potential for widespread application and considerable benefit to the nation as we enter a new and exciting technological age.
Rt Hon Nicky Morgan MP
Chair of the Steering Group Member of Parliament for Loughborough Chair of the House of Commons Treasury Committee
Professor Robert Allison
Vice-Chancellor Loughborough University
Loughborough Area of InnovationThe Loughborough Area of Innovation embraces
Loughborough and the surrounding region extending to the edges of Leicester, Nottingham and Derby. It is a thriving area rich in innovation, education and industry, with outstanding
connectivity and a high quality of life. Through partnerships, collaborations and innovative engagement the impact
of the Area of Innovation extends regionally, nationally and internationally far beyond
its geographical location.
Vision into actionThis thought-piece outlines
the shared vision of a university and its partners to drive economic growth. It is an exemplar of effective delivery
of the Industrial Strategy across the Loughborough Area of Innovation. This exciting agenda for action builds
on recent success, established strengths and
partnership working.
01
Foreword
The Industrial Strategy sets out a long-term plan to boost the productivity and earning power of people throughout the UK. Each and every one of our cities, towns and rural areas have competitive advantages that are essential to shaping our economic future.
Loughborough is a striking illustration of this. Through partnerships forged locally and nationally, leading academics and cutting-edge companies are working together to develop new approaches in disciplines as diverse as autonomous vehicles, biotech, low carbon technologies, and sports medicine.
This innovation is being recognised nationally. Only recently, Loughborough University academics were awarded Autocar’s Sturmey Award for the development of technology which reduces harmful emissions from diesel engines, making an important contribution to our Industrial Strategy Grand Challenge to maximise the advantages to the UK from the global shift to clean growth.
Our universities and research institutions are among the best in the world: the UK is a global leader in science and research, and the source of many important innovations. Among these many jewels, Loughborough University is a fine institution that rightly prides itself on its world-leading research and innovation.
Yet Loughborough’s vision for an Area of Innovation also brings benefits much closer to home. With over 400 research partners, 600 companies hosting 1,500 year-long placement students, and partnerships with 640 schools to raise aspirations, the University is ably demonstrating the value that higher education institutions bring to their regions, as well as to our country as whole.
Rt Hon Greg Clark MP
Secretary of State, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
2018
Vision into actionThis thought-piece outlines
the shared vision of a university and its partners to drive economic growth. It is an exemplar of effective delivery
of the Industrial Strategy across the Loughborough Area of Innovation. This exciting agenda for action builds
on recent success, established strengths and
partnership working.
02
Executive summaryThe Government’s Industrial Strategy offers a blueprint for building a Britain fit for the future: a vision for transforming the economy and boosting productivity.
As the technological revolution continues to change and shape how we work and live, the UK needs to maintain its position at the forefront of discovery – ensuring prosperity and wellbeing for all.
The Loughborough Area of Innovation offers a successful model for nurturing inclusive nationwide economic growth, and is ready to play a key role in driving the Industrial Strategy’s implementation and the realisation of its vision.
It harnesses Loughborough University’s outward-facing ethos of working with partners from business, industry and the public sector to address major challenges and advance realistic solutions. A top 10 UK university with an outstanding record in research, education and industry engagement, Loughborough plays an important part in many of the Area’s existing and evolving projects.
In this pivotal role, the University continues to act as a catalyst for collaboration and change – building momentum and strengthening the Area’s readiness to implement the Industrial Strategy.
Loughborough University’s partnerships for effective action
OVER
400 RESEARCH PARTNERS
600 COMPANIES HOSTING
1,500 YEAR-LONG PLACEMENT STUDENTS
The key principles of the model are:
• Partnerships At the heart of the model, partnerships underpin its delivery: we simply achieve more by working together; sharing knowledge, expertise and resources to drive success.
• Integration Dovetailing with the LLEP Local Industrial Strategy, the Midlands Engine and nationally across many sectors, boosting local and nationwide impact.
• Leverage Working together to secure private funding and public interventions maximises success, benefits and impact whilst reducing divisive competition for finite capital.
• Innovation Positively disrupting the stagnant status quo and implementing new ways of working overcomes existing challenges, effecting growth that will position the UK at the forefront of industry.
• Cross-boundary Many of the model’s partnerships are trans-disciplinary, cross-sector, and transcend the Area’s political and geographical boundaries, realising innovative solutions to the challenges that hinder economic growth and productivity.
This document outlines how the Loughborough Area of Innovation model works, describes its successes and how its replication could make a critical contribution to achieving the Industrial Strategy’s goals nationwide.
03
Realising growthAddressing the Grand Challenges
The Loughborough Area of Innovation is ready to address the Grand Challenges, orientating and expanding existing capability and strengths to deliver successful and timely solutions.
Loughborough University has cultivated an extensive network of partnerships that reach across conventional discipline and industry boundaries. These collaborations bring together the breadth of expertise and technological capabilities required to prosper in the rapidly changing global marketplace.
This way of working corresponds with the Government’s vision for addressing the Grand Challenges: the public and private sectors working with universities, researchers and civil society in cross-cutting collaborations to build the UK’s competitive advantage.
This document provides examples of how the University and its partners are already tackling aspects of the Grand Challenges, developing and applying advanced technologies that improve productivity and quality of life (pages 8-10).
These partnerships, whilst rooted in and directly relevant to the local context, transcend boundaries and respond to the need for key industries and sectors to succeed in national and international markets. This principle of purposeful partnership working has developed an agile, business-focused response that avoids the constraints of geographical and political agendas – truly allowing innovation to drive growth across the country.
As well as advancing the technologies, products and processes to ensure clean growth; support a thriving and independent ageing population; and implement sustainable transport networks these partnerships demonstrate a keen understanding of the dynamic relationship between science and technology as well as the central role of AI and machine learning in our increasingly data-driven economy.
Many of them also support the cultivation of well-trained, commercially aware graduates who will alleviate the growing shortage of skilled professionals across a range of sectors. For example, as well as tackling some of the UK’s biggest energy challenges, the multi-partner Energy Research Accelerator’s Doctoral Training programme is nurturing experts who will lead innovation within the sector for years to come.
The Loughborough Area of Innovation’s university-led approach which builds on existing research-industry partnerships and established innovation clusters represents an effective way to address the Grand Challenges – boosting UK innovation and productivity whilst adding both high-value, knowledge-based jobs and productive, accessible manufacturing roles across the labour market.
70 BUSINESSES ON SCIENCE AND ENTERPRISE PARK
165CONSULTANCY PARTNERS
WORKING WITH
640 SCHOOLS TO RAISE ASPIRATIONS
240 EMPLOYERS AT GRADUATE FAIR
04
Maximising impactIntegrating delivery of the Industrial Strategy
The Area’s approach will closely integrate with the LLEP’s Local Industrial Strategy as well as other regional plans (see diagram, right). This will enable the University to contribute its skills and expertise to driving growth in the Midlands Engine, and provide vital connectivity to research and innovation nationally and internationally.
At the heart of the country, the Area is geographically well-placed to drive change within the Midlands and beyond. Current and planned developments (illustrated in the Key diagram on pages 6-7) demonstrate the scale of opportunity and potential for growth within the Area, and offer strong foundations for productivity.
Building sound foundations
The five foundations highlighted in the Industrial Strategy as essential to tackling the Grand Challenges and enhancing productivity are discussed in the second half of this document (pages 11-21) where the Area’s current strengths are outlined along with plans for boosting its capacity to succeed:
• Loughborough University and its partners develop the creative and collaborative opportunities that drive new thinking, establish novel approaches that allow new ideas to flourish, and enable people to continue to learn throughout their lives.
• Existing infrastructure offers important support to business and industry. Planned developments – spanning power generation, highway improvements, housing, commercial accommodation, and digital connectivity – will further extend these benefits.
• The Area’s business environment allows both established and start-up companies to flourish in competitive market places, and plans are in train to enhance productivity, competitiveness, and workforce skills.
• Central to the Area’s philosophy is the harnessing of benefits of a place-based approach, leveraging multiple initiatives to gain maximum shared value from investments, locally and nationwide.
Midlands Engine Vision for Growth
Sector Growth Strategies
LLEP Local Industrial
Strategy
Other LISD2N2 etc
Industrial Strategy
Charnwood Economic
Development Strategy
Loughborough Area of Innovation
The Agenda for Action (page 5) summarises some of the project opportunities that will strengthen the Area’s foundations, and its ability to act nimbly and effectively by maintaining capacities across a wide range of technologies and disciplines.
Proposed way forward
As well as proposing the Loughborough Area of Innovation as an exemplar for successful implementation of the
Industrial Strategy, we offer to support the Government in rolling out the model nationwide.
We can engage with Government to help review existing structures and identify where funding, resources and
expertise can enhance their success. We can also assist in promoting realistic and deliverable plans for new ways
of working that will nurture inclusive economic growth nationwide.
05
Loughborough University Science and Enterprise Park (EZ) - Urgently needed: new floor
space accelerating development in the EZ
- 17,500 sq m new space; 1,000 jobs; GVA £65M
Autonomous Vehicles Centre, QEOP - Partnership with Ford, Digital
Engineering and Test Centre, and other partners for a leading centre linked to announced test-bed with TRL, LLDC and TFL
- Increase in GVA >£30M
Midlands Engine Research Accelerators - Innovation at the heart of the
Midlands Engine action plan – driving growth and productivity
- Investment needs are in the Midlands Engine action plan
- Potential GVA growth >£300M
Manufacturing productivity - Dramatic improvements in
productivity performance through engagement with SME and Supply Chain companies to enable response to technological change
- 4,000 jobs; GVA £130M over a 10 year period
Sport, exercise, health and business - Ambitious plans for globally
significant centres in sports innovation and disability sports
- Up to 3,000 jobs; £100M GVA over 10 years
Life Sciences Opportunity Zone (EZ)
- Realising the potential at Charnwood Campus and related benefits on other employment sites in the area
- 400 plus jobs; £26M GVA
Low energy/zero carbon demonstrator - Using developments at Loughborough University Science and Enterprise
Park to develop scale-up demonstration of new low carbon technologies - Transformative demonstrator: 500 jobs; GVA £33M
New and bigger businesses - Developing incubator provision
for new businesses and support for scale-up – a partnership for high growth
- The Generator: a town-centre hub for the creative industries supporting new business and employment
- 50 new businesses; 300 jobs in first five years
Regional skills - Comprehensive response to
regional skills needs in technical, digital and STEM
- Developing the strategic partnership with Rolls-Royce to address skills issues
- Application for an Institute of Technology
- 4,000 plus extra learners; £40M salary uplift
DNRC (Defence National Rehabilitation Centre) - Maximising economic and social
benefit with enhanced research and aiding employability
- Rehabilitation Research Reimagined project
- 4,000 accelerated returns to work; £80M added productivity in first five years
Loughborough University Science and Enterprise Park (EZ) - Vital infrastructure integrated
to existing M1 J23/A512 work to open up high-value employment land
- 27 hectares of employment land; 3,000 jobs
Agenda for action
These project opportunities embrace expansions of existing successful measures and interventions as well as new activities that will maximise the Area’s ability to deliver the Industrial Strategy. Significant leverage is provided with substantial support from a range of sources. Funding routes, including new initiatives such as the Strategic Priorities Fund and the Strength in Places Fund as well as existing opportunities like the Regional Growth Fund and the Research Partnerships Investment Fund, will be explored to sustain progress and momentum.
The Agenda builds on the Area’s strong past record for embracing developments and opportunities to accelerate growth.
06
Loughborough Area of Innovation Key diagram
SCIENCE AND ENTERPRISE PARK EZ
1 Software development pre-let office
2 Med-tech pharma R&D facility
3 SportPark growth (Pavilion 4)
4 Grow-on space
5 LUSEP power supply
6 LUSEP road connections
7 Consolidate EZ land ownership
8 National Centre in Combustion and Aerothermal Technology and Rolls-Royce UTC
9 Transport Innovation Accelerator (TIA)
10 Energy Research Accelerator (ERA)
OTHER WEST OF LOUGHBOROUGH DEVELOPMENTS
11 Highway upgrade
12 BiFFA Energy from Waste project
13 Garendon Park: 3,200 home sustainable urban extension
14 STEMLab
15 East Midlands Gateway strategic rail freight interchange
16 Elite Athlete Centre
WIDER LOUGHBOROUGH DEVELOPMENTS
17 Charnwood Campus EZ
18 Defence National Rehabilitation Centre
19 National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine
20 The Generator, Loughborough
SUB-REGIONAL CONTEXT
21 Space Campus EZ
22 Toton HS2 Station
23 Boots EZ
24 Infinity Park EZ
25 Smart motorway works
26 MTC (Manufacturing Technology Centre) at Anstey Park
27 MIRA Technology Park EZ and CCAV Testbed
28 Toyota
NATIONAL CONNECTIVITY AT QUEEN ELIZABETH OLYMPIC PARK
29 Loughborough University London
30 Advanced Propulsion Centre
31 Ford Autonomous Vehicles Group
32 Smart Mobility Living Lab (CCAV Testbed)
Details of projects are provided in Annex C
The Key diagram illustrates how the Loughborough Area of Innovation is centrally placed within the Midlands, at the heart of the country. It is close to East Midlands Airport, HS2 and other rail links, and central to the motorway network. The scale of opportunity and sense of dynamic growth is demonstrated by the range of projects underway or in advanced planning, leveraging the added value of inter-related developments and addressing all the requirements for sustained inclusive growth.
10 MILE
A50
A453
A46
M1
A512
A6
A512
A42
A6
A6
23
22
M42
LOUGHBOROUGH
18
192016
7109
85
6 321 14
12
15
13
11
17
NOTTINGHAMDERBY
2423
4
M1
23a
24
25
25
22
A60
HS2
HS2
21
11
14 MILES 28
23 MIL
ES26
16 MIL
ES27
LEICESTER
Queen Elizabeth
Olympic Park
HERE EAST
3029
3231
LONDON
100 MILES
08
The Loughborough Area of Innovation is ready to make an important, sustained contribution to help the Government address the Grand Challenges, and realise the opportunities created.
It is an ideal place for forward-looking businesses to grow and prosper. As evidenced by the rapidly growing number of people in the Area working within the knowledge economy, it is a place in which ideas are nurtured and flourish.
There are a number of reasons for this. The Area’s distinctive strengths and range of resources (see the Key diagram, page 6) support innovation and growth. Meanwhile, and perhaps most importantly, its ethos for partnership working brings together a breadth of capabilities to accelerate solution delivery.
In line with the Government’s invitation to business, academia and civil society to work together, the Area, following the University’s lead, fosters exactly these kinds of multi-sector collaborations.
By assembling expertise and capabilities that transcend conventional barriers, these partnerships share cross-cutting knowledge, expertise and resources – making them stronger and more likely to thrive.
Many partnerships within the Area, and with collaborators beyond its boundaries, are already exploring developments in the emerging technologies and sectors embraced by the Grand Challenges.
For example, the University is the lead academic partner in the Smart Mobility Living Lab (London) and is the only UK partner in the €4.3 million My Active and Healthy Ageing (my-AHA) project.
The examples shared over the following pages are just some of the ways that the Area’s partnerships are already addressing the four Grand Challenges. They offer a model for collaborative working that should be encouraged nationwide – to drive innovation and create inclusive growth that will put the UK at the forefront of the industries of the future.
The Grand Challenges
Image credit: ESA/Envisat – CC BY-SA IGO 3.0 Original photo altered for illustrative purposes
09
Growing the AI and data-driven economy
The rapid evolution of AI and machine learning – as well as the ease with which large data can be gathered and utilised – has widespread impacts across all four of the Government’s identified Grand Challenges.
The Area has a wealth of expertise in the development of ethical and secure AI and data-driven innovations which have applications spanning a wide range of sectors including construction, cybersecurity, energy, manufacturing, medical technology and healthcare, and transport. Partnerships between academia and industry are breaking new ground in the development, deployment and acceptability of the new technologies that are transforming the world – and ensuring that graduates have the skills required to succeed within it.
For example, a partnership between the University and Apical Ltd (now part of ARM, Loughborough office) has supported the development of advanced image signal processor technology used across the mobile and broadband sectors as well as in on-camera video analytics. The technology allows machines to “see” and interpret the world around them, just as we do. The company is supporting ongoing PhD research at the University that will extend the technology’s applications, and is currently considering projects that will focus on machine learning in driverless vehicle technology, robotics and smart cameras.
Clean growth
The University and its partners are developing low carbon technologies, processes and systems that support economic growth whilst reducing emissions.
The work addresses issues raised by the Grand Challenges spanning projects to develop low-energy domestic and commercial properties; encourage cleaner, more efficient business practices; nurture smart homeowners; and pioneer the low carbon transportation of people and goods.
As part of this activity, Loughborough is one of seven institutions leading the £180 million Energy Research Accelerator (ERA). A cross-disciplinary research initiative, ERA is tackling some of the UK’s biggest energy challenges in low carbon energy generation, distribution and storage. The University is supporting ERA’s research in three key areas: cold energy technology, thermal energy storage, and the large-scale retrofit of existing buildings to
reduce winter heat loads. In addition to exploring and developing new technologies, ERA is also preparing the next generation of innovators via its PhD programme which allows high-calibre postgraduates to address industry-led research challenges.
In another partnership – with HSSMI – the University’s London campus hosts the Advanced Propulsion Centre’s Digital Engineering and Test Centre which brings together industry and academic experts to halve the time and cost of developing and testing next generation low carbon powertrain systems and vehicles.
10
The future of mobility
The Grand Challenges acknowledge that mobility is undergoing a revolution; spanning developments in sustainable transport networks and alternative fuel sources, smart roads and connected autonomous vehicles, the rise of mobility-as-service and data-driven transport.
The University leads a range of collaborative research projects established to deliver accessible, clean and efficient mobility. The breadth of expertise supporting these initiatives is wide-ranging, allowing researchers to contribute across the mobility agenda.
Projects include enhancing the performance of SCR systems to meet NOx emission targets, assessing public acceptability of alternatively fuelled vehicles and smart motorways, and the development of sustainable lightweight materials and vehicle components.
As lead academic partner in the £19.2 million Smart Mobility Living Lab (London), the University is supporting the trial of ideas, technology and services within complex public environments, helping vehicle manufacturers to develop new vehicle systems and big city transport applications for cleaner, safer urban spaces.
The University is also part of in the consortium behind the £9.5 million MIRA Technology Institute. MTI will help to satisfy the demand for technical specialists and engineers in the automotive sector particularly in disruptive technology areas, for example, electrification and driverless car technologies.
Ageing society
The need to harness innovation to create a society and economy that works for everyone – irrespective of age, background or income – is clearly laid out in the Government’s Grand Challenges.
The East Midlands’ life sciences cluster brings together significant expertise and knowledge to support the development of new products and systems that meet the needs of our ageing society.
As part of this activity, the University is leading research that aims to enhance the quality of personal and working life well into later years. This includes design for old age and wearable med-tech devices; the significance of diet and activity for healthy old age; and the potential of informatics to support a harmonised, cost-effective health and social care service.
For example, the University is the only UK partner in the €4.3 million My Active and Healthy Ageing project. Funded by the European Commission, researchers are creating a digital platform for healthcare professionals that conducts assessments of older people and their homes to support independent living.
Another important element of the work in this field focuses on the need to adapt for an ageing workforce.
The LUSKInS (Loughborough University Sensory and Kinaesthetic Interactive Simulations) project has helped to raise awareness of occupational health within the construction industry by providing insights into the effects of work-related health conditions often suffered by long-serving workers, for example, hand-arm vibration syndrome and dermatitis.
Working Late, a four-year NDA Collaborative Research Project, has investigated cross-industry issues around later-life working to develop interventions that promote the health and productivity of older workers.
11
Implementing the Industrial StrategyBuilding on sound foundations
This document sets out an exciting vision for delivering context appropriate implementation of the Industrial Strategy within the Midlands Engine with wide-ranging benefits to the whole UK.
It is an exemplar of a higher education institution leading a coherent, knowledge-based and partnership-rich response that builds on existing strengths.
The initiative is effective because it addresses all five key foundations of a successful, productive and inclusive economy:
• The success of the Industrial Strategy hinges on innovation across all sectors, existing and emerging: the Area has proved itself to be a launchpad for disruptive ideas that thrive.
• It has a strong people focus underpinned by a desire to develop skills and education, helping to ensure that jobs are created across the skills distribution.
• Its central location nationally, and existing and planned infrastructure developments make the Area an ideal place from which to champion growth across the UK.
• The Area has a healthy business environment, enabling start-ups and high-growth companies to flourish.
• The Area has achieved much, and its place-based approach has connected disparate organisations to create clusters of expertise that drive innovation, growth and prosperity.
The following pages provide an overview of the Area’s strengths and successes in relation to the Strategy’s five foundations. Also outlined are proposed projects that will consolidate existing achievements whilst supporting the constant drive for improvement and success.
PeoplePlace
Ideas
InfrastructureBusiness environment
12
The Loughborough Area of Innovation benefits greatly from the special opportunities created by the presence of a leading university with a strong industry-facing focus. The positive impact of research excellence and commitment to innovation is firmly recognised as a key driver for sustained growth and increased earning power.
Ideas and innovation are all about people. Loughborough University and its partners develop the creative and collaborative opportunities that drive new thinking, establish novel approaches that allow new ideas to flourish, and enable people to continue to learn throughout their lives.
Indeed, this ethos and way of working steers collaborations beyond the local area, so that ideas and knowledge are developed and exchanged with partners worldwide.
Ideas
13
Science and researchThe importance of the research and science base of universities to a successful Industrial Strategy is well recognised. This research base must be integrated as part of a well-functioning pipeline that links underpinning science to applied research and development and product innovation. The Strategic Priorities Fund offers opportunities to address this in multi- and inter-disciplinary areas. The Steering Group includes institutions well-versed in making this process work well – for example the Rolls-Royce UTC, the Manufacturing Technology Centre, and the Digital Engineering and Test Centre.
InnovationThe flow from science and research into innovation is one vital and important element. Equally significant is the ability to develop innovative and entrepreneurial thinking at every level – from graduate recruits to the boardroom. Universities, working with industry, can be major agents of change, bringing the new skill sets needed for a global market place to both future and current staff. Creative and innovative thinking is particularly fostered among SMEs in clusters like the one at Loughborough University Science and Enterprise Park.
High growth and start-up incubationFurther growth will come from a strengthening flow of new, expanding and rapidly growing companies. In the short-term, this will come from existing companies that reach major growth points, whilst ongoing incubation of businesses will ensure the sustainable emergence of new businesses into the future. Patterns and models of start-up and growth are rich and varied – spin-outs and spin-ins, new products, and new markets all have a part to play. Partners are already working effectively to support such growth, and opportunities to extend this have been identified.
Partnership in action
Health, sport, physical activity and sports technology
- Top University for Sport in the world leads excellence
- World-class record in sport-related research, education and innovation
- Centre for performance, participation and management of sport
- National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine
- “Sport and Physical Activity Economy” is a local LEP priority
- Global partnerships in sports technologies, including MIT
- Modernisation of sports national governing bodies supported by SportPark
- Strong skills pipeline for life sciences and other key sectors
Next steps - Defence National Rehabilitation Centre – facility opens 2018
- Extended impact on civilian populations to follow
- Rehabilitation Research Reimagined project
- Global centre in sport technology and innovation
- Development of exercise as medicine to reduce heath and social care costs
14
A skilled workforce is a productive workforce, and as the modern workplace evolves so too the skills required. The positive impact of a skilled workforce rich in graduate and postgraduate qualifications is firmly recognised by the partnership as a key driver for sustained growth and increased earning power in the Area.
The University, with its unique place locally, regionally and in the national HE landscape, also has very significant direct impact. Loughborough admits more students to engineering degree courses than any other UK University – it really is at the very heart of the technological and manufacturing base of the Midlands Engine.
Collaborative working between Loughborough College, the University and industry partners will help to develop and deliver top-quality technical training, potentially through an Institute of Technology. All partners in the Area are committed to ensuring that the region’s workforce has the digital, management, STEM and technical skills to support innovation and boost productivity.
People
15
Partnership in action
New approaches to STEM education
- Loughborough University and Loughborough College have a long and successful record in STEM education
- Primary, secondary and tertiary level interventions supported
- The University’s Mathematics Education Centre methods used in >500 schools and by Ofqual
- Aspirational and inspirational workshops and visits programme
- Partnership working between schools, the University, and Loughborough College
- Supporting development of a skills strategy for Leicester and Leicestershire
- £17 million investment in STEM teaching facilities, and new STEM employer demand led courses, eg bioengineering
Next steps - Increased engagement with local schools and far-from-the-workforce populations
- Harness Apprenticeships to drive the STEM skills agenda
- Extend engagement to address digital and computer science skills
- Actions to address STEM skills shortages at Level 4 and Level 5, including an Institute of Technology
Skills for growthPerhaps the single most important factor affecting success is ensuring that UK business and industry can recruit, retain and develop the modern skilled, agile and productive workforce they need to compete. There are particular pressures related to engineering and STEM subjects. The response to this challenge will embrace schools at all levels, Loughborough College and other FE providers as well as Loughborough University and other HEIs. Just as significantly, businesses must exploit opportunities provided by Apprenticeships and the Levy to increase investment in training and development. It is essential that we provide skilled and work-ready entrants to the labour market and enable the upskilling and development of the existing workforce. Partners are especially well placed to lead a vigorous response to the regional skills needs in STEM and digital technologies.
New and higher skills at the heart of inclusive growthThe Industrial Strategy Commission stressed the importance of “enabling growth everywhere” as fundamental to embedding an inclusive growth approach. The Loughborough Area of Innovation will support this process with its emphasis on manufacturing and product development. It is also committed to ensuring that the opportunities and benefits of growth are felt by all sections of the workforce in both under-performing and high-performing areas. This requires action to ensure that jobs are created at all levels, including in the supply chain and service sectors, as well as effective efforts to provide skills development to those further from the workforce and employment. Apprenticeships and vocational training will be at the heart of this response and Loughborough College will be a leading provider, developing new and enduring partnerships with local business and industry.
InfrastructureA key component in the Midlands Engine, the Loughborough Area of Innovation’s location and connectivity make it an ideal place from which to champion nationwide growth. It has excellent existing links to the whole country via the M1, M42, M69 and A50. It is also well served by rail and an international airport. The Midlands Connect programme will see a series of new road, rail and air investments, helping to drive the economic growth and power the Midlands Engine.
The Loughborough and Leicester Science and Innovation Enterprise Zone, including the University’s Science and Enterprise Park, already offers important infrastructure for business and industry. Planned developments, spanning power generation, highway improvements, housing, commercial accommodation, and digital connectivity will further extend these benefits.
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17
Clean, efficient travelRadical innovation is crucial to the delivery of a modern low carbon transport infrastructure. From physical implementation to research, the Area is working to develop a clean, efficient transport network across its geographical area – and beyond.
Practical solutions include £28 million improvements to the M1’s junction 23 which will ease congestion and provide access to housing and commercial sites, including the planned expansion of the University’s Science and Enterprise Park.
Meanwhile, the coming of HS2 heralds reduced journey times from key Midlands centres to cities nationwide. To support this infrastructure development, Loughborough PhD studies are underway in partnership with HS2 Ltd to develop innovations in design, delivery and operation.
Research partnerships also support the development of a wide range of new vehicle systems and transport applications. The University is the lead academic partner in the Smart Mobility Living Lab which will enable the trial of ideas, technologies and services within a complex public environment. It is also home to Cenex, the UK’s Centre of Excellence for Low Carbon and Fuel Cell Technologies.
Power and energyMuch important infrastructure investment has already been secured to support this growth agenda.
One challenge is to improve the network providing power to the west of Loughborough and to open up the next stages of the Loughborough University Science and Enterprise Park.
Home to the UK’s largest and leading UK sustainable energy research centre, CREST, the University and its partners strive to enable a smooth transition to a decarbonised future which will underpin global health, economic growth and prosperity.
Digital technologiesBusinesses in the Area already benefit from superfast broadband to ensure digital connectivity – a key consideration as many are tech start-ups.
Their work – some in partnership with the University – is driving forward the digital agenda across a range of areas encompassing medical devices, cybersecurity, SMART technologies and early VR validation.
Partnership in action
Unbounded growth – Loughborough University London
- New partnerships for development, linking London and the Midlands, extending the benefits of London growth
- An entrepreneurship and innovation focused campus
- Driving growth at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park – critical early partner in place-based development
- Digital Engineering and Test Centre
- New and deeper partnerships, including Ford and LLDC
Next steps - London Connected and Autonomous Vehicles Testbed, part of a CCAV cluster, including Ford
- Collaboration with other HEIs moving to QEOP
- Enhanced international opportunities
- Growing global presence and influence
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Some sectors and industries have enjoyed significant recent growth which needs to be sustained. Others offer massive potential if the UK can harness its innovation and research base. This sustainable growth is underpinned by the need to create a business environment that will release entrepreneurial flair, enabling start-ups and high-growth companies to flourish.
The University has a strong record of supporting major industries worldwide, and the knowledge and skilled work force developed by the University will play an essential part in the competitiveness of many key sectors.
Loughborough University Science and Enterprise Park (LUSEP, an Enterprise Zone site) – where over 70 companies already employ more than 2,000 people – is a magnet for the ambitious high-growth knowledge-based companies essential to the realisation of the Industrial Strategy. Indeed, the importance of the Park is reflected in its inclusion in the White Paper.
Business environment
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CompetitivenessSuccess in the highly competitive market place of the future will require innovation in product design, improved manufacturing processes and new business practices. This calls for talented and skilled graduates to drive change. Clusters like the Loughborough Area of Innovation support businesses, especially SMEs, to succeed in competitive sectors.
ProductivityThe UK’s productivity performance will be increased by working more fruitfully than our competitors and by increasing the proportion of the workforce engaged in higher value jobs. We need to address the productivity challenge by supporting innovation, development in high-value sectors, and by nurturing the skill levels needed for greater productivity. Innovation is critical as adapting to technological change increases productivity and earning power.
Inclusive growth – better jobs for allIt is essential that the benefits of economic growth lead to improved earning power and quality of life for everyone. People need to be able to earn a good living, and feel that by being in work they can support their families. This requires the creation of new and better jobs across the labour market.
Key sectors and sector deals The Loughborough Area of Innovation will make a major contribution to achieving the Industrial Strategy’s priority goals. This is reflected in the priorities for the Loughborough and Leicester Science and Innovation Enterprise Zone, and in the designation of Loughborough’s Charnwood Campus as the UK’s first Life Sciences Opportunity Zone. The Area already plays an important role in initiatives like the Energy Research Accelerator, and is integral to Midlands Innovation and the Midlands Engine.
Partnership in action
Rolls-Royce partnership
- >30 years of collaborative research and innovation, including Rolls-Royce University Technology Centre
- Competitiveness, innovation and job creation
- STEM graduate and PhD flow
- Engineering and manufacturing drive economic growth
Next steps - National Centre in Combustion and Aerothermal Technology
- Address STEM skills agenda, develop ‘T-levels’ and uptake of Apprenticeships
High-growth companies
- LUSEP Enterprise Zone site employs more than 2,000 people: high-quality flexible space enables growth
- LUSEP tenants include Nemaura (pharma/med tech); Commagility (digital and 5G technologies); Segura (supply chain management)
- 257 jobs created over two years after City Deal, ERDF and local authority funding
- New business creation, including spin-outs, spin-ins, graduate and student enterprise
Next steps - Design and build projects and grow-on space developments on LUSEP
- EZ growth ahead of forecast and 17,500 sq m under development (1,000 jobs)
- Infrastructure to extend development area
- Increased incubation support, including collaborative space
- Deepen SME links to LLEP Business Gateway, boosting productivity
PlaceThe Loughborough Area of Innovation – at the heart of the UK’s newest Enterprise Zone, the Loughborough and Leicester Science and Innovation Enterprise Zone – has a high proportion of people working in the knowledge economy.
Using new opportunities, such as the Strength in Places Fund, creative approaches will be developed that improve the productivity performance of both large and small companies. Above all, this response is about working together to effectively deliver the Industrial Strategy both within and beyond this place.
Central to the Area’s philosophy is the harnessing of benefits of a place-based approach, leveraging multiple initiatives to gain maximum shared value from investments, without being constrained by geography and reaching across the nation to drive growth and prosperity.
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Partnerships and the local economyIntegrated collaborative working has a special role in relation to place and the local economy. The examples in this document demonstrate the partnership working of all the main actors within the Loughborough growth area, with a shared objective to deliver the priorities of the Industrial Strategy, the Midlands Engine action plan, the Strategic Economic Plan of the LLEP, and relevant plans of the Leicestershire County and Charnwood Borough Councils. These activities will be complementary to local Industrial Strategies – in particular for Leicester and Leicestershire, but also for other LEP areas that benefit from the Area of Innovation. Wider ambitions are also reflected, such as the close engagement with the London Legacy Development Corporation in relation to East London where Loughborough University London is based.
Inclusive growth benefiting the whole of the UKThe commitment of Government to ensure that growth benefits all regions of the UK and that it works for all parts of the labour market is very welcome and crucial for sustainable and widespread growth. This priority is reflected in the vision set out here which balances a necessary focus on high-value jobs in the knowledge-based economy with clear plans to ensure that it also drives employment in production through the supply chain that is accessible to less-skilled workers.
Investment and tradeProjects within the Loughborough Area of Innovation are well-represented in the DIT’s portfolio of investment opportunities. The Area and its industries offer very good options for attracting FDI and relocating research-intensive businesses. It is also attractive to companies operating in priority sectors, including life sciences. The Area is already a significant asset within the Midlands Engine and its ambitions for growth – responding to the Grand Challenges will create further opportunities.
Partnership in action
Anchor institution driving economic growth
- Far-reaching economic impact of Loughborough University and LUSEP
- Contribution to productivity and skills across the economy
- Partnerships key to the extent and range of impact and to development of clusters
- GVA £940 million – more than 75% in the Midlands
- Total of 14,400 jobs supported, including 11,900 in the Midlands
- Key contribution to enabling growth everywhere
Next steps - Growth of globally significant Science and Enterprise Park
- New partnerships increase added value in manufacturing sector
- Wider opportunities through supply-chain growth
- Explore ways to achieve improvements in the power network
- Supporting growth of businesses and increased productivity
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ANNEX – A/B
Annex AMembership of the Loughborough Area of Innovation Steering Group
The following people have played an important role in bringing together this exemplar report of how partnership working enables us to help build our Industrial Strategy:
Rt Hon Nicky Morgan, MP for Loughborough (Chair)
Robert Allison, Vice-Chancellor, Loughborough University, and LLEP Board Member
Tracy Bhamra, Pro Vice-Chancellor Enterprise, Loughborough University
Guy Broadbent, Chairman, Aquapak Polymers Ltd
Faz Choudhury, Chief Executive Officer, Nemaura Pharma
John Doherty, Chief Executive Officer, Loughborough College
Graham Hoare, Director of Global Vehicle Evaluation and Verification, Ford
Nick Rushton, Leader, Leicestershire County Council, and LLEP Board Member
The late David Slater, Former Leader, Charnwood Borough Council
Paul Stein, Chief Technology Officer, Rolls-Royce
Audrey Traynor, Chair of Governors, Loughborough College
Thanks are extended to the following for their assistance:
Rowena Limb, Cities and Local Growth Unit
Helen Mitchell, Assistant Director, Cities and Local Growth (BEIS)
Rachel Dickenson, Cities and Local Growth Unit
Mandip Rai, LLEP Director
Annex BReference and source documents
Past, current and future developments in the Loughborough Area of Innovation bring together best practice and new insights from a number of relevant sources. In recent months these have included:
Building our Industrial Strategy – Green Paper
East Midlands HS2 Growth Strategy
Final Report of the Industrial Strategy Commission
Independent Review of the Creative Industries
Industrial Strategy – White Paper
Leicester and Leicestershire Strategic Growth Plan – work in progress summary
Life Science Industrial Strategy
Making our Economy Work for Everyone – Inclusive Growth Commission
Midlands Engine Vision for Growth
The making of an Industrial Strategy: taking back control locally – Localis
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ANNEX – C
Annex CDetails of projects included in the Key diagram on page 6
SCIENCE AND ENTERPRISE PARK EZ1 Software Development pre-let office
9,000 sq m development for fast growing company, creating hundreds of new jobs
2 Health technology and pharma R&D facility
High specification 3,000 sq m purpose-built development for high growth company
3 SportPark growth (Pavilion 4) Expansion driven by success of sport
management and governance cluster in LEP priority sector
4 Grow-on space Flexible space to support scale-up of
successful companies growing out of Advanced Technology Innovation Centre
5 LUSEP power supply Essential requirement to sustain growth
of the EZ site, as part of overall provision required for west of Loughborough
6 LUSEP road connections Access requirement for the next phases of
LUSEP to sustain progress of the EZ
7 Consolidate EZ land ownership Potential to rationalise and/or
consolidate land ownership to maximise growth potential
8 National Centre in Combustion and Aerothermal Technology and Rolls-Royce UTC
Key national facility already under development, underpinning growth
9 Transport Innovation Accelerator (TIA) Significant new research facility, delivering
important industry benefits included in the Midlands Engine action plan
10 Energy Research Accelerator (ERA) Facility under development as part
of the first phase of ERA, driving new technologies and innovation
OTHER WEST OF LOUGHBOROUGH DEVELOPMENTS11 Highway upgrade
£28M programme with funding in place for works, including improvements to J23 and dualling of the A512
12 BiFFA Energy from Waste project Plans for a major waste facility that will
develop both heat and power with options for local supply
13 Garendon Park: 3,200 home sustainable urban extension
Major SUE to NW of Loughborough, includes 60 acres of employment land
14 STEMLab Now fully open: this £17M investment
underpins STEM courses at the University, securing graduate supply in critical areas
15 East Midlands Gateway strategic rail freight interchange
Rail freight terminal next to East Midlands with 6 million sq ft of distribution facilities
16 Elite Athlete Centre Specialist facility with climatic
conditioning available in close proximity to world-class training facilities
WIDER LOUGHBOROUGH DEVELOPMENTS17 Charnwood Campus EZ The UK’s first Life Sciences Opportunity
Zone, a former AstraZeneca site offering 500,000 sq ft of high-quality space
18 Defence National Rehabilitation Centre £300M development for pioneering forces
health and rehabilitation with adjacent civilian centre
19 National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine
Leading the ‘exercise as medicine agenda’ in the UK by co-locating clinical practice and research
20 The Generator, Loughborough Community-led arts and creative
industries project, developing business and employment
SUB-REGIONAL CONTEXT
21 Space Campus EZ Adjacent to the Space Centre, developed
by the University of Leicester and Leicester City Council to create a space-related cluster
22 Toton HS2 Station Planned hub will serve Nottingham, Derby
and Leicester increasing connectivity within and beyond the Midlands
23 Boots EZ Major 113 hectare site with a focus on
health, beauty and wellness
24 Infinity Park EZ Prime 40 hectare site with significant
opportunities across a range of commercial and technology areas
25 Smart motorway works Extensive programme to increase capacity
on the M1, including works related to the rail freight hub
26 Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) HVM Catapult supporting adoption
of new manufacturing technologies by industry leaders at Anstey Park
27 MIRA Technology Park EZ and CCAV Testbed Highly successful Enterprise Zone site
with specialist automotive facilities and EZ extension recently approved
28 Toyota Large scale state-of-the-art
manufacturing facility underlining the significance of the Midlands to the automotive industry
NATIONAL CONNECTIVITY AT QUEEN ELIZABETH OLYMPIC PARK29 Loughborough University London (LUL) Based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic
Park; a research, enterprise and postgraduate campus with a strong innovation focus
30 Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) London base and executive centre for APC
supported by LUL, Ford and other partners
31 Ford Autonomous Vehicles Group Group co-locating at Here East (NW of the
Olympic Park) linked to Digital Engineering and Test Centre
32 Smart Mobility Living Lab (CCAV Testbed)
A £19.2M test bed for the development and validation of mobility solutions, using Connected Autonomous Vehicles
Professor Robert AllisonVice-ChancellorLoughborough University+44 (0)1509 [email protected]
Loughborough Area of Innovation
University-led growth; exemplar implementation of theIndustrial Strategy: Building a Britain fit for the future
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