Read: Universities at the forefront of levelling up celebrated at awards

Universities playing a leading role in levelling up the UK and spreading opportunity have been celebrated at the the Levelling Up Universities Awards 2022. The Awards recognise those higher education institutions and their staff that are committed to being truly purpose-led and engines of social mobility. 

Winners on the night included the University of Bradford, York St John University, Cardiff Met University and the University of Chester. A range of individuals, teams and projects were highlighted as being at the forefront of the levelling up agenda. 

There were also Levelling Up Spotlight Awards for Professor Nick Petford, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Northampton and Professor Andrew Wathey, the recently retired former Vice-Chancellor of Northumbria University, for their leadership within the higher education sector. 

The Awards were hosted by former Education Secretary Rt Hon Justine Greening, alongside students from the University of Greenwich who read out social mobility case studies from across the sector. 

The categories for the Awards are based around the Levelling Up Goals launched earlier last year by Justine Greening. The Goals provide a benchmark for activity focused on driving equality of opportunity from early years through to careers, alongside barriers such as the digital divide, health and infrastructure.

Justine Greening said: “The higher education institutions recognised in the Levelling Up Universities Awards 2022 are spreading opportunity to people and places where it can make the biggest difference and breaking the cycle of Britain's endemic poor social mobility.

“With the current debate around policy changes in higher education, now is a perfect time to celebrate the work of our universities in providing those crucial opportunities to both learn and develop for young people of all backgrounds. It is important we also celebrate universities as anchor institutions and employers in the communities, regions and wider country they serve.

“I’d like to say a huge congratulations to all our winners and thank them for leading the way on levelling up.”

The full list of winners are:

Goal 1: Strong foundations in Early Years 

University of Worcester

Goal 2: Successful school years 

Cardiff Metropolitan University

University of Derby

Goal 3: Positive destinations Post 16+ 

Liverpool John Moores University

University of York

Goal 4: Right advice and experiences 

University of Chester

University of Reading

Goal 5: Open recruitment 

University of Bradford

Goal 6: Fair career progression 

University of Bolton

Goal 7: Widening access to savings & credit 

Staffordshire University

Goal 8: Good health and wellbeing 

Bournemouth University

Plymouth Marjon University 

Goal 9: Extending enterprise 

Solent University

Northumbria University

Goal 10: Closing the digital divide 

University of Southampton

Goal 11: Infrastructure for opportunity 

University of Lincoln

Goal 12: Building homes & sustainable communities 

University of Northampton

Goal 13: Harness the energy transition 

University of Greenwich

University of the West of England Bristol

Goal 14: Achieve equality, through diversity & inclusion

York St John University

University of West London

Spotlight Award Winners

Professor Nick Petford, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Northampton

Professor Andrew Wathey, former Vice-Chancellor of Northumbria University