Partnership programmes

The Centre partners with a small number of cities each year, undertaking bespoke research on a specific question agreed with the Partner City. For example, in our Partner City engagement with Liverpool we focused on the issue of graduate retention, and in Birmingham we analysed prospects for knowledge intensive jobs growth. Cities benefit from access to the Centre's networks and expertise, and the relationship culminates in an independent, bespoke report to the city. Our partner cities for 2010 so far are Derby, Sheffield and Croydon, and we will be working with Preston in 2011.

Previous Partner Cities have included Belfast, Hull, Cambridge, Bristol, York and Brighton.

For further information on the Partner City programme, please contact Jonathan Seager.  

Associate Cities

The Centre also has a network of Associate Cities. Associate Cities benefit from an on-going advisory engagement with the Centre, where we provide regular analysis and advice on a range of issues linked to the city’s economic performance.

Each Associate City is allocated a dedicated relationship manager from the Centre's team of research and policy experts. The Centre develops a close relationship with the city, and, among other benefits, provides an annual benchmarking analysis of the city's economic performance, sends regular research and policy updates, presents analysis at meetings and connects the Associate City with other relevant cities and policy experts in our network.

For further information on becoming one of our Associate Cities contact Chris Webber.