It’s a timely conversation. Government thinking today is dominated by the twin priorities of growth and the skills development required to sustain it. Nowhere is this more visible than across the Oxford to Cambridge Growth Corridor, where the ambition is to generate an additional £78 billion in GVA and 403,000 new knowledge-intensive jobs by 2050. The challenge – and opportunity – is clear: how do we equip our people and places to deliver on that scale of aspiration.

The role of universities in devolved skills delivery

Our discussion began with the Social Market Foundation and Universities Alliance report Skills Sidelined, which rightly argues that universities should be formally integrated into local skills planning systems – with a requirement for higher education providers to be consulted in the development of Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs).

We’re beginning to see this integration take shape at a regional level, where devolved agencies are working in partnership through Employer Reference Boards (ERBs) and collaborative delivery models. These partnerships are essential: they move skills planning away from centralised control and closer to the real economic geographies where employers, educators and civic leaders can work together.

In Cambridge, for example, universities are helping to shape a high-skilled, high-performing and inclusive regional economy through initiatives like the Growth Hub and Opportunities Hub – connecting data, brokerage, mentoring, and experience to tackle inequality and ensure everyone can benefit from the region’s success.

Collaboration across the Oxford to Cambridge Growth Corridor

The Arc Universities Group (AUG) provides a strong example of how collaboration can scale impact. As a consortium of universities working across the Growth Corridor, the AUG has evolved into a strategic alliance focused on inclusive and sustainable economic growth in a region of national significance.

Together, these universities generate a combined turnover of over £5 billion, attract almost £2 billion in research income, and are home to 17% of all UK spin-out companies. Today, the AUG operates as part of the Supercluster Board, supporting Government’s renewed focus on skills and growth – priorities now championed by Rachel Reeves and Lord Vallance.

Through East West Rail’s legacy funding, we’re now enabling projects that sit firmly under the theme of skills and talent for growth. As I said during the session:

“For New Labour it was education, education, education. For newer Labour, it’s skills, skills, skills – and ultimately, growth, growth, growth.”

The impact of technological change

Technological disruption, particularly AI, is reshaping the skills map at pace. By 2035, around 12 million people in England are projected to see their roles change or decline. More than 1 million jobs – from administrative to sales and entry-level roles – could disappear entirely within a decade.

The good news? Over 80% of the 2030 workforce is already employed today, meaning the focus must be on upskilling and reskilling, not just new entrants.

Key growth areas include:

• AI, robotics, and digital literacy
• Life sciences, where the UK will need 133,000 new roles by 2030 – however, we should note that only 17% of life sciences graduates currently remain in the Growth Corridor after graduation
• Environmental and net-zero industries, where up to 3 million workers will require reskilling.

The Government has begun to respond with new national initiatives – from Skills England and a forthcoming Growth and Skills Levy, to investments in AI education for schools and the introduction of “V Levels” for 16–19-year-olds. But the pace of change means that universities will need to play an increasingly active role in translating these policies into real, local delivery.

Policy, partnerships and patient collaboration

Devolution is changing the game. Funding and innovation are increasingly being driven through local and regional partnerships – from the Milton Keynes Compact to Innovate Cambridge and emerging models in Oxford and Greater Manchester.

As I said during the session, this shift demands a new mindset from universities:

“Think about your role as a civic institution. Embrace partnership. Be patient. It’s a long game. Don’t go it alone – we’re all in this together.”

The future of skills delivery will depend on the ability of higher education, local authorities, and industry to act collectively – forming the triple helix that drives innovation, inclusion, and long-term growth.

Skills as the foundation of growth

At the UK Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) earlier this year, every speaker mentioned the same theme: skills. Without them, investment, productivity and innovation cannot flourish. That’s why in the Growth Corridor we’re taking a systems approach, integrating skills with other workstreams such as infrastructure, innovation places, and quality of life.

As we look ahead, there’s a clear call for collaboration rather than competition – or perhaps even “an amnesty in the culture war” between further education, higher education, and local government.

If the UK is to achieve its growth ambitions, then the message is simple: we’re all in it together.

Next steps

We’ll be continuing this conversation at the Skills for the Growth Corridor Summit on 12 December at Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge.

Join us to meet the leads, a government minister, and partners from CUHP, Innovate Cambridge, EEH, East West Rail, the Supercluster Board, Skills England, and more.

Register to attend: https://arcuniversities.co.uk/news/attend-the-skills-talent-summit-2025/