Keele launches ambitious plans to strengthen region
Keele University has partnered with regional organisations to launch ambitious plans to strengthen the area 's recovery following the pandemic.
Keele Deal | Recovery project aims to create a powerful and wide-ranging programme aimed at achieving a major impact on the region 's recovery and building long-term resilience.
The fourth in a series of Keele Deals agreed with local partners over the last four years, Keele Deal | Recovery will bring together the university 's assets and expertise with those of its partners, including local authorities, NHS organisations, business bodies and community organisations.
The deal incorporates a number of ambitious projects led by Keele, including a further expansion of the university 's Science and Innovation park to attract high value digital, life science and food security organisations into the local area.
Innovation Centre 7, as part of the park, set for completion in Spring 2022 and specialising in digital enhancement, will enable more than 300 SMEs to benefit from a data analytics transformation programme, adding to the 600 local businesses that Keele has supported through the New Keele Deal, launched in 2017.
This latest deal will also see the university working with local partners to develop responses to the increasing job losses and the changing labour market caused by the pandemic.
Speaking at the launch of Keele Deal | Recovery, Professor Trevor McMillan, Vice-Chancellor of Keele University, said: “This Deal will create another step change in our contributions to the local area, broadening our ambitions to create a comprehensive institutional endeavour covering all aspects of life affected by the pandemic.
“The New Keele Deal, which was launched just over four years ago, led to one of the largest university-led regeneration programmes in England. Our goal with this latest Deal is to further demonstrate the difference a university can make to the fortunes of an area when it shows collective leadership, listens to and works with others, and delivers on shared priorities. ”
Speaking of Staffordshire County Council 's support of the Deal, Leader Cllr Alan White said: “Since Keele University launched its Keele Deal Economy in 2017, the University has delivered a range of projects and initiatives that have supported economic and skills growth in Staffordshire, including helping with challenges of recovery faced by our town centres.
“Whilst there is no doubt that Covid-19 has had an unprecedented impact on our economy, with the support of the University and our other partners, we are still ambitious for Staffordshire 's growth, recovery and renewal. ”
More information about Keele Deal | Recovery is available online at keele.ac.uk/keeledealrecovery.
Pictured: Keele University's campus