Arc Universities

The Oxford to Cambridge Growth Corridor - home to world-leading innovation, research, and enterprise - stands at the forefront of the UK’s ambition for sustainable, knowledge-driven growth.

The Oxford to Cambridge region holds the potential to deliver a further £78 billion in additional economic output and more than 400,000 new high-skilled jobs by 2050. Such growth will only be possible with a skilled, adaptable, and future-ready workforce.

The Arc Universities Group (AUG) - part of the Supercluster Board - is bringing together higher education institutions, industry leaders, training providers, and government bodies. Funded by East West Rail, we are developing a regional Skills and Talent Strategy to help unlock the full potential.

Our mission

To create the talent pipeline needed to drive innovation, sustainability, and inclusive growth across the Oxford to Cambridge region. Lead by Arc Universities Director, Alistair Lomax, we are building our strategy around the region’s most vibrant and high-growth sectors: Technology & Innovation, Environmental Sustainability and Creative & Cultural Industries.

To achieve this, we are:

  • Building on existing expertise and effort
  • Aligning with national priorities, including the UK’s long-term industrial strategy and the national skills agenda.
  • Convening a coalition of stakeholders—from universities and colleges to employers, sector bodies and local communities.
  • Taking a lifelong learning approach, from early education to adult upskilling and reskilling.
  • Designing scalable, practical interventions to ensure our workforce is ready for the future.

 

University of Northampton

One of the youngest universities in the UK but is already leading the way in adding value to society, having won multiple awards for social impact.

University of Cambridge

The University of Cambridge is one of the largest employers in the region and a central component of the Cambridge Cluster.

University of Ruskin

The Anglia Ruskin University has a mission to transform lives through innovative, inclusive and entrepreneurial education and research.

University of Oxford

Ranked first in the world in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings for 2017, 2018 and 2019, the University of Oxford is a world-leading centre of teaching, learning and research.

University of Bedford

The University of Bedfordshire is an established provider of development and knowledge exchange activities - with a central theme of applied research for business growth.

Oxford Brookes University

Oxford Brookes University is a major local employer with a commitment to harnessing the enterprise, creativity and knowledge of its academics, support staff and students.

University of Cranfield

Cranfield University is a specialist postgraduate university and world leader for education and transformational research in technology management.

Open University

Supporting over 173,000 students globally, The Open University is the largest university in Europe and a leading innovator in digital learning and educational technology.

Buckingham New University

Bucks New University is proud of its position as an anchor institution in the region, with its 127- year history of enabling a richly diverse community of students to achieve their full potential.