TH E UN IVERSITY OF BRADFOR D
Bradford’s blueprint for success
THE UNIVERSITY OF BRADFORD HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING BUILD AN ETHOS OF SOCIAL MOBILIT Y IN IT S PART OF YORKSHIRE, AS FIT FOR PURPOSE REPORTS.
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Through engaging with local stakeholders, and responding to local needs, it can shape and deliver connections to provide opportunity. But, to make a lasting difference, this has to be a long-term and systematic strategy, grounded in the local community and supported by government. The university’s contribution complements Bradford’s Opportunity Area Programme set up in 2016, as a partnership between the Department for Education and Bradford Council with local schools, colleges, employers, research organisations and community organisations, for a series of targeted investments to improve social mobility. The original Opportunity Area, part of a national pilot scheme, reached more than 97% of the frontline and the government is now providing additional funding. While driven by local stakeholders, the Department for Education, with its nationwide experience of what works and its existing links with local education staff and institutions and other government departments, has been essential to its success. The Opportunity Area has helped to build links with key employers in the area and the University of Bradford’s collaborative approach has allowed it to work in partnership with other organisations in the area to mobilise the resources that already existed within the community. It provides skilled graduates who can then find quality careers, generating wealth and social mobility for the city. Employers across the city are now embedding graduate opportunities within their growth plans.
