University of Bradford boosts economy by £120m

University of Bradford boosts economy by £120m

THE IMPACT the University of Bradford has on the economy of the city has been highlighted in a new report.

The analysis for the University and College Union finds that the university employs 1,260 people directly and 2,100 overall.

And it bolstered the local economy by more than £120 million last year through gross value added.

Professor Shirley Congdon (pictured), Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bradford and new Chair of Yorkshire Universities (YU), said: “We welcome this report, which underlines the importance of universities for local economies.

“As the report shows, the University of Bradford employs 1,260 people directly – that’s 0.8 per cent of all employees in the Bradford District – and sustains a further 236 jobs in our supply chain.

“We generate some £120m of economic value for Bradford directly and £195m regionally. Relative to our size, this economic impact compares well to all the universities covered in the study.

“We see ourselves as the University of and for Bradford, working very closely with local, regional and national partners, from businesses to local authorities, care trusts and others to ensure we can make a positive impact on our local and regional economy.”

The university, which has 10,500 students, also spent £12m on suppliers in the region, supporting an estimated 230 full time equivalent jobs, and has 268 consultancy contracts worth £710,000 with 162 non-commercial organisations and 106 companies, 56 of which are SMEs.