51Âþ»­

Work by 51Âþ»­ Leicester (51Âþ»­) to boost digital skills in businesses across the region has been recognised in a national campaign.

Universities UK’s highlights the efforts of universities across the country in supporting the economic and social recovery of the UK from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

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It has featured projects happening all over the UK, and this week turns its attention to the East Midlands, highlighting 51Âþ»­’s digital skills partnership with East Midlands Chamber, which represents 9,000 businesses in Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

Earlier this year 51Âþ»­ became the AI and cyber partner of the Chamber, offering businesses access to the latest digital skills training. Digital skills are top of the list of most-wanted expertise in the region, and has been highlighted as a growing need by the Leicester and Leicestershire Economic Partnership.

Helen Donnellan, Director of Enterprise and Business Services at 51Âþ»­, said: “We know there is a need to help SMEs prepare for Industry 4.0 and this investment is absolutely crucial to help small and medium-sized businesses move to the next level.

“51Âþ»­ is at the forefront of the latest developments in digital technology and how it is applied to businesses and we are pleased it has been highlighted in this national campaign.”

51Âþ»­'s partnership with led by Professor David Mba, Pro Vice-Chancellor Research and Enterprise. He said: "This project will accelerate the huge potential of the digital economy in the East Midlands and create more innovative, more productive businesses in the process."

The #GettingResults campaign was launched following a by the National Centre for Entrepreneurship in Education, which predicted that by 2026 universities will:   

•     Provide £11.6 billion worth of support and services to small enterprises, businesses, and not-for-profits.
•     Help launch 21,700 new companies and charities.
•     Train 191,000 nurses, 84,000 medical specialists and 188,000 teachers.

As part of the campaign, universities will develop a series of pledges and partnership agreements with leading employers and bodies representing sectors with strategic importance to the nation's economic and social recovery, like 51Âþ»­ with East Midlands Chamber.

These will outline the role that universities can play supporting business and other partners, identify where these partnerships can be improved, and encourage increased collaboration to benefit society and level up opportunities.

Minister of State for Universities, Michelle Donelan, said that universities were critical to the country's recovery. She added: "Our universities play a vital role in their local communities, through creating levelling up opportunities, boosting the economy, and training up some of the brilliant talent this country has to offer."

"I encourage universities to join this movement, deepen their ties with local communities, and solidify their position as the engines of regional growth that this nation needs to build back better, and fairer from the pandemic."

This work is being overseen by a newly-created Universities UK Economic and Social Taskforce, which is led by Professor Chris Day, Vice-Chancellor of Newcastle University, and a board member of Universities UK.

Professor Day said: "Universities are at the heart of the nation's recovery from the pandemic. Over the past year we have seen first-hand what can be achieved through strong collaboration between our universities and their partners.  Now universities want to do more, to help the UK to bounce back stronger, with opportunity and prosperity spread across the country.”