Our consultation response focuses on how professional and technical universities contribute
to many of the cross-cutting enablers of a pro-business environment identified in the green
paper and how these can be optimised through government policy.
Growth driving sectors
We argue the government should seize the opportunity to utilise the whole higher education
sector to deliver the Industrial Strategy, Sector Plans and its wider growth mission and that
higher education should be treated a foundational sector offering growth opportunity for the
economy and businesses. We also suggest further consideration should be given to how to
avoid the Sector Plans creating silos and reducing opportunities for cross-fertilisation, and to
how the government’s programme of analysis on subsectors can be shared on an iterative
basis.
Barriers to creating a pro-business environment
We argue that concerted efforts to improve the cross-cutting enablers of the Industrial
Strategy will make the UK more attractive overall and that universities are essential to
delivering a highly skilled workforce, research and innovation, international partnerships and
place-based approaches. Therefore, the financial sustainability of the higher education
sector presents a significant barrier, and the government must tackle the difficult but
necessary decisions to put the sector and the impact it generates on a secure footing in the
longer-term. Policy stability and clarity is also key to supporting investment.
People and skills
We highlight the numerous benefits of the higher education sector to the broader skills
landscape, but also the importance of the diverse range of institutions within it. We argue
that whilst there are several benefits that a more flexible Growth and Skills Levy could
provide, this should not come at the expense of supporting growth in the number and
diversity of higher and degree apprenticeships. We also make the case for a more open
approach to consultation from Skills England; reversing the decision to defund level 7
apprenticeships; addressing concerns about reforms to level 3 qualifications; and the need
to improve the UK’s position as a top destination for international talent.
Innovation
We argue that expanding opportunities for high-potential SMEs to access the innovation
expertise and support they need, including to overcome barriers to digital and technology
adoption, should be a priority in the Industrial Strategy. We suggest numerous policy
interventions that would support professional and technical universities to leverage public
investment to drive innovation and how to improve porosity between academia and industry.
International partnerships and trade
We argue that the International Education Strategy (IES) should be embedded as a key
enabler of the Industrial Strategy and the government should consult widely on the review of
the IES. We also suggest that officials conducting the IES review should be given the
necessary cover by Ministers to explore topics that are currently politically challenging, such
EU mobility schemes, given the 10-year timeframe for the Industrial Strategy. There is clear
potential for EU’s 10th Research and Innovation Framework Programme to strengthen some
of the cross-cutting enablers of the Industrial Strategy and we argue the government should
seek early agreement on the UK’s association.
Place
We argue that professional and technical universities should be actively positioned at the
heart of place-based approaches in the Industrial Strategy to utilise their position as anchor
institutions that also have a national and international presence. We also raise concerns
about the potential tensions and trade-offs between some the approaches and objectives in
the strategy, including inclusive growth; emphasise the need for integration of research and
innovation into Local Growth Plans; and outline examples on the need for effective
coordination.
Partnerships and institutions
We suggest the Industrial Strategy Council should include representation from the higher
education sector (with expertise on how to best deploy the capabilities and insights of all
universities), as well as looking to academia as a source for finding Council members. We
also argue that it will be important for the Council to have genuine convening power across
government departments to help speed-up decision-making.
