Sheffield City Region mayor calls on government to support Sheffield universities

Sheffield City Region mayor Dan Jarvis has asked the government to do more to support the city's universities as the region starts to rebuild from the harsh economic effects of the Covid-19.

In a letter to Secretaries of State, the South Yorkshire metro mayor called for more support for the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam based on their economic contributions to the local area, which he maintain’s will fuel the region’s coronavirus recovery.

He wrote: “The University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University both make a huge civic, economic and cultural contribution to our region.

“As we emerge out of this crisis the Sheffield City Region will need the universities more than ever to equip a new workforce, to help shape the future skills needs of our region; to drive growth and innovation and to support research capacity and capability vital for our collective economic and social needs post-Coronavirus.”

Mr Jarvis added that the city’s institutions such as University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) and Sheffield Hallam University’s Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre and National Centre of Excellence for Food Engineering play a ‘central’ role for future industrialisation.

The Sheffield City Region mayor echoes Yorkshire’s Universities calls for a support package for higher education institutions that ‘strengthens their capabilities to kickstart’ the region’s economic recovery.

Sheffield Hallam University and the University of Sheffield have submitted proposals for investment and support to the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Mr Jarvis has also urged the government to ensure sure the visa system allows universities to continue attracting international students.

He said: “There must be pace to the work that the BEIS Research sustainability taskforce brings forward proposals to support the translational research capabilities of both the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University.

“Whilst I welcomed the government’s initial support package for universities and students, this must only be a first step.

“Our universities have stepped up during our hour of need, providing the students and the skills to get us through this pandemic.”