Key Cities Innovation Network

An exciting evening at the House of Lords where The University of Salford Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nic Beech introduced “For Salford From Salford”, a report on the social and economic impact of civic universities that captures the university’s commitment to local and national partnership focused on outcomes for students and places. Key Cities Key Cities Innovation Network Miranda Cannon sam ingleson Hannah Robinson-Smith Emma Barnes Darren Grice Caitroina McCusker Andrew Connors

An exciting and important opportunity for dynamic leaders from diverse backgrounds in research, innovation, or business to bring their creativity and vision to UK Research and Innovation's Mission Research and Innovation Challenges. The Challenge Director role is crucial to the success of the Research & Development Missions Programme, serving as a champion for the role of research and innovation in addressing critical, complex issues identified by the UK Government’s Missions. The Research & Development Missions Programme (RDMP) is a new, targeted UK programme designed to support the Government’s National Missions and support delivery of the of the milestones in the Government’s Plan for Change. The primary objective of the RDMP is to fund targeted research and innovation (R&I), including technology development, to solve critical problems unique to each mission to improve people’s lives and create growth. Follow this link for more on the Mission areas, the role and the programme https://lnkd.in/ejyr-Mwz

Fantastic work being undertaken in our coastal communities addressing health inequalities. Coastal Community Alliance members if you would like to attend these events please book directly but please let me know so we can ensure representation at all appropriate events. Please circulate to your ICB, NHS colleagues

The 2025 Convention of the North Place and Culture programme was an amazing start. Tickets booked up in the first 48 hours and, as we look forward for our collective next steps, there is much to share and celebrate. Have a watch of the video to get a sense of the panels, participants and activities throughout the day. Many thanks to colleagues across the Northern Place and Culture Partnership, Creative Lancashire and Lancashire County Council who went the extra mile to make it happen. Kasper de Graaf Bernard Hay Rebecca Ball Carol Holt David Skaith Danny Dickinson Anna da Silva Tom Fleming Helen Jones Max May Angela Jones Lauren Zawadzki Patricia Yates Jude Kelly CBE Jenny Rutter Pete Massey William Seabrook Will Garton Shannon Conway Suzy Jones Catherine Dewar David Renwick Danny Crump Harry Hoodless Andrew Erskine Nihal Arthanayake Caroline Cooper Charles Harkirit Boparai Kim McGuinness Helen Pheby PhD Dr Jim Hinks Laurie Peake Ed Matthews-Gentle

"Let's highlight the excellence in our own back yard" - Cllr Tudor Evans On Monday night, Key Cities launched its latest report, On the Waterfront at the third annual Cities in Parliament reception hosted by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Key Cities. The message is clear: those living in coastal communities may have a different type of identity to that of the big-city dwellers, yet their livelihood remains just as important. Coastal inequality is a social justice issue, and as a network, Key Cities remains a leading advocate for providing a future for these areas and challenging the deprivation that exists in our coastal areas. Joined by City Leaders, Parliamentarians, University Leaders and stakeholders from across the Key Cities network, the launch highlighted the growing ambition for the UK's coastal communities and a sense of unity between their entrusted leaders and wider Key Cities members. To open the evening, Rebecca Smith MP, Lord Steve Bassam, Chair of the House of Lords Select Committee on Regenerating Coastal Towns and Communities, spoke on the importance of cross-party collaboration and the work of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for coastal communities. Cllr Tudor Evans, representative of Plymouth, Prof. Sheena Asthana, Prof. Sheela Agarwal, Polly Billington MP, co-chair of the APPG for Coastal Communities and Steve Race MP, Exeter launched the report, calling for support and urgent action to revive what once were thriving communities. Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/e9kypVCN #coastalcommunities #investment #socialjustice #healthcare #socialcare #housing?

We had a truly inspirational gathering at our third annual Cities in Parliament reception with City Leaders, Parliamentarians, University Leaders and place stakeholders from Plymouth, Sunderland, Cumberland, Salford, Essex, Wolverhampton, Newport, Bradford, Colchester, Lancaster, Coventry, Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole, Wrexham, Lincoln, Southampton, Bath, Medway, Norwich, Portsmouth Gloucester, Hull, Exeter and Stoke-on-Trent. Key Cities Chair Cllr John Merry outlined the network’s engagement with Government on devolution, growth, social care, housing and a wide range of policy areas, and Prof. shirley congdon, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bradford, reported on the development of the Key Cities Innovation Network. Rebecca Smith MP and Steve Race MP spoke about the work of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Key Cities and the enduring importance of this national cross-party collaboration between cities, universities and MPs. Highlight of the evening was the launch of **On the waterfront**, a Key Cities policy report calling for urgent action to reverse half a century of decline in our coastal communities, introduced by Cllr Tudor Evans, Prof. Sheena Asthana and Prof. Sheela Agarwal with powerful supporting contributions from Lord Steve Bassam, Chair of the House of Lords Select Committee on Regenerating Coastal Towns and Communities, and Polly Billington MP, co-chair of the APPG for Coastal Communities. https://lnkd.in/eMc_sG9b Christopher Smith Richard Allan Hoda Judah Armani Michael Barry Prof. Nic Beech Thea Behrman Prof. Chris Bennewith FRSA SFHEA Louise Bright Paul Bristow Jocelyn Cunningham Anna Dixon MP Tristan Osborne MP Wera Hobhouse MP Jon Hunt, RTTP Joanne Dobson Pamela Donnelly Millie Earl Moss Garde Mike Harris Tim Harrison Elaine Hayes FRSB David King Laura Lacey Jemima Laing Erika Lewis Sarie Mairs Slee Vince Maple Ed Matthews-Gentle Tara Solesbury Sam Michel

Announcing in parliament today, Key Cities’ latest report outlines the significant disadvantages that Britain’s traditional coastal communities are facing, alongside 28 recommendations to empower, protect, connect, and generate investment for them. Although coastal communities contribute ￡150bn a year to the economy, they have an economic output 26% below the UK average, worse health and mortality outcomes, and an increasing vulnerability to rising sea levels and coastal erosion. As a network that’s home to around 12% of the UK’s urban population outside London, for Key Cities’ coastal members, and their neighbours, this report highlights an urgent need for action. Produced in collaboration with a dozen universities, the report spells out the growing disparities in health outcomes, educational attainment, infrastructure, employment, and climate risk that’s impacting the UK’s coastal regions. The recommendations include: - Creating hyper-local public services and place strategies for economic development and environmental protection - Creating a Cross-Departmental Task Force for coastal regions - Adopting a definition of coastal communities that encompasses urban coastal areas - Establishing long-term funding streams and competitive grants to enable strategic development - Reviewing the adverse impact of HM Treasury’s Green Book Land Value Uplift criteria with regard to coastal areas Cllr John Merry, Chair of Key Cities and Deputy City Mayor of #Salford, says: “The coast can be a source of strength and inspiration underpinning our national renewal, but only if we confront its decline head-on with a strategic approach to regeneration. This report offers a framework for doing so.” Cllr Tudor Evans, Leader of Plymouth City Council and Key Cities Portfolio Holder for Ports and Coastal Communities, said: “The economic potential of our regional ports and their crucial role in achieving net zero targets through FLOW and more carbon-efficient freight movement are undervalued.” Prof. shirley congdon, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bradford and Chair of Key Cities Innovation Network, said: “ This report presents a powerful case for urgent action, rooted in local experience and backed up by extensive evidence…it demonstrates the value of leveraging collaboration between policymakers and universities across the country through our Innovation Network.” #coastalcommunities #investment #bradford #plymouth Key Cities Innovation Network Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/e9kypVCN

Southampton’s Renaissance Vision—to maximise our city’s reputation as a world-class waterfront destination—took a big step forward last night! ??? The Nicholas James Group’s ambitious Town Quay Development was approved at Planning, marking a major milestone for our city’s future. This is what happens when responsible developers engage communities and work closely with our proactive planning team deliver real progress together. Southampton’s transformation is happening—watch this space! ?? #SouthamptonRenaissance #FutureOfOurCity

"Genuine social care reform can be achieved now, by hearing the voices of those on the ground." Key Cities' health and social care portfolio lead and Leader of Norwich City Council, Michael Stonard spoke of UK local authorities charged with funding and delivering care services but burdened by an outdated and costly system, and the solutions to deliver much-needed adult and children's social care, in TheMJ this week. Councils are at their breaking point, with more than 80% of them expected to overspend their budget this financial year. To resolve this, long-term, sustainable funding mechanisms and joined-up services between government departments, including the Department for Education are the way forward. Key Cities recently launched its report, Social Care: Views from the Front Line, at its All-Party Parliamentary Group on Key Cities meeting in Parliament earlier this month. The report spells out a series of recommendations that the network believes should be implemented to address the urgent plea of its communities. As a representative of 12% of the UK's population outside of London, the recommendations herald from a wide range of officers across the network - including front line workers, commissioners, and directors of children's and adult services. In summary, the report calls for the Government to: - Investigate the provision of adequate resourcing for multi-agency safeguarding child protection teams, - Assess the Ofsted inspection framework to ensure it contributes to service improvement, - Create better links between children's services and education, - Government, local authorities and universities should explore a granular-level data partnership involving health and social care using the data to evaluate policy changes, - Replace the Social Care Precept with a mechanism that reflects actual need and levels of deprivation in local authority areas, - Develop a national workforce strategy to address recruitment and retention challenges in social care, and - Protect the unpaid care sector through better wraparound support for carers during and after their service. Key Cities welcomes the Government's latest commitment to transforming social care in the UK, but swift action is essential. We look forward to exploring a path that looks at both immediate relief and long-term solutions for communities. #socialcare #reform #education #adult #children #localauthority #council Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/edJwkmt9

The Civic Agreement with the University of Southampton runs right through this development—showing how collaboration with the community leads to better outcomes. ? No planning objections because people were engaged from the start! By appointing a developer committed to working with SMEs, we’re also backing the Southampton Pound principle—keeping investment local and supporting our city’s businesses. ???? This is how responsible development should be done! Southampton’s future is taking shape. ?? #SouthamptonRenaissance #StrongerTogether