Read: PHP commits to shaping the UK’s levelling up agenda

Primary Health Properties (“PHP”), the UK and Ireland’s leading investor in modern healthcare properties, has committed to play a key role in levelling up the UK by partnering on the development of a set of Levelling Up Goals. 

The Levelling Up Goals, established this year by former Education Secretary Rt Hon Justine Greening with input from businesses, universities and policymakers, is a 14-part architecture designed to tackle the challenges facing the UK post Covid-19. There are 14 Goals ranging from Goal 1: Strong Foundations in Early Years; to Goal 14: Equality through Diversity and Inclusion. 

The focus of the framework is to unite businesses, civil society and policymakers in levelling up the nation with a clear set of objectives to address. The ultimate aim is to drive equality of opportunity in the UK at key life stages, from early years through to adulthood alongside other barriers such as healthcare and fair career progression. 

The Goals are the first major piece of work by the Purpose Coalition, which includes some of the UK’s most purpose-led businesses, universities and public sector organisations, such as Amazon, bp, Direct Line Group, the BBC, Compass Group, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester United Foundation, University of Bradford and many others.

As part of its work on the Levelling Up Goals, PHP will be working on its Levelling Up Impact Report, setting out its own contribution to the levelling up agenda in the UK.

PHP’s Chief Executive Officer, Harry Hyman, is joining as a Levelling Up Goal Commissioner, leading on shaping what levelling up means for that specific area and providing thought leadership as to how data can be used to make ‘levelling up’ measurable. 

Justine Greening said: “The Levelling Up Goals give a clear architecture for purpose-led organisations to measure and articulate their purpose and impact. The challenge now is for businesses to recognise the wider role that they have to play in society and creating equality of opportunity as we recover from the pandemic.”

“It is great to have the leadership of Harry Hyman and the team at PHP make their commitment to levelling up by joining our coalition of purpose-led businesses and really taking a lead on and shaping what levelling up really means particularly through the lens of good health and well-being through ongoing investment in flexible, modern properties for local primary healthcare in our communities across the UK and Ireland and delivering meaningful, long lasting impact” 

Harry Hyman said: “I am delighted to accept this invitation to become a Levelling Up Goal Commissioner. Primary healthcare facilities are at the heart of the levelling up agenda. Investment in GP surgeries and primary care hubs can regenerate left behind areas and improve the wellbeing of whole communities. This is particularly important as we rebound from Covid, which has shown that primary care needs modern purpose built premises – too many GPs are forced to work out of unsuitable former residential buildings. 

“There is also the economic impact. For every pound invested in the construction and refurbishment of primary healthcare, £2.84 is generated in the wider economy. This typically benefits local firms, generating jobs that help communities level up.”