News / economy
Higher Education provider delivers £500m regional economic boost
According to a newly released report, UWE Bristol has contributed an estimated £547m to the West of England economy and supported nearly 9,000 jobs in 2023/24.
The study published by Oxford Economics found the university’s total UK impact exceeded £1bn, sustaining around 15,000 jobs and generating £242m in tax revenues.
The university, which is home to some 35,000 students and employs over 4,600 staff across its three campuses, is the largest education provider in the South West.
The report showed direct impact in terms of wages and taxes, while hospitality, transport, leisure and accommodation were identified as big beneficiaries of induced spending.
UWE Bristol is the largest education provider in the South West – photo : Milan Perera
Beyond its economic footprint, the report highlights UWE Bristol’s role in tackling inequality and supporting key sectors.
Nearly a third of its students come from deprived areas, while many graduates move into frontline roles such as healthcare and social work, or into the growing professional, scientific and technical services sector.
The university’s research strength, with 76 per cent rated “world-leading” or “internationally excellent”, is also expected to deliver long-term productivity gains.
UWE Bristol is home to some 35,000 students and employs over 4,600 staff across its three campuses – photo: Milan Perera
Its enterprise initiatives, including the Future Space innovation centre and Scale Up 4 Growth programme, have helped create hundreds of jobs and support regional business growth.
According to its Annual Impact Report 2024/25, Future Space has supported 148 companies since 2016, generating more than £35m in GVA and facilitating over 600 jobs.
The facility, which offers high-spec labs, offices and workshops, has become a launchpad for innovative startups developing solutions in areas such as health, rehabilitation, waste management and sustainability.
Some of the design students at UWE Bristol’s Bower Aston campus – photo: Milan Perera
Notable companies based there include Supersmith, which develops self-stabilising mobility scooters for uneven terrain; NPK Recovery, which turns urine collected at festivals and marathons into fertiliser and SAH Diagnostics, which has screened more than 400,000 patients across 31 NHS trusts.
UWE Bristol recently welcomed Prince William, who visited the site in January to see its research and development in action. He even tried some of the prototypes.
Since 2018, the Scale Up 4 Growth (S4G) partnership with NatWest has helped create around 400 jobs in the region through grant funding and business support.
The economic impact of UWE Bristol includes induce spending in hospitality sector – photo: Milan Perera
Professor Steve West, vice-chancellor at UWE Bristol, said the findings highlight both the university’s economic and societal impact.
He added: “We’re really proud to be based within the West of England and the report cements UWE Bristol’s position as an important anchor institution, contributing broad economic, social, and civic impact – a role we take seriously.
According to a newly released report, UWE Bristol has contributed an estimated £547m to the West of England economy and supported nearly 9,000 jobs in 2023/24 – photo: Milan Perera
“At the heart of this is our students, who bring vital skills to the region for local employers, particularly those in health and social care.
“Our enterprise ethos, embedded across programmes and our campuses, is supporting regional productivity by nurturing start-ups and spin-outs at Future Space, alongside world class research collaborations.
Main photo: Drone Motion and Hypensocial
Read next:
Our newsletters emailed directly to you
