And then there were five. As we hit the weekend, the Conservative Party is whittling down its leadership contenders to the final two, before the 160,000 strong membership make their choice over August. With leadership campaigns reaching fever pitch, any thought of a quiet summer recess for Conservative MPs seems to be rapidly receding.

As we prepare for a summer of sport, with the UK hosting the UEFA Women’s Euros, Professor Karen Stanton, Vice-Chancellor at Solent University, Southampton looks at the role universities and civic partnerships can play in levelling up our communities.

The Purpose Coalition, in partnership with bp, has today launched a ‘Levelling Up’ report reviewing bp’s impact on social mobility across the country. It also further examines its plans and activities to widen opportunities in the workforce.

The Co-op Group, the UK’s largest consumer co-operative, launches a Levelling Up Impact Report with the Purpose Coalition, assessing its current impact on levelling up across the country and recommending further action for the future.

A new report has been launched to celebrate the wide ranging role that universities in the UK play in spreading opportunity. 

The University Best Practice White Paper sets out just some of the actions and projects that are having a direct impact on students and communities.

Centrica hopes to recruit as many as 500 former soldiers, sailors and airforce personnel into roles across British Gas and the wider group by the end of 2023, to assist in the transition to Net Zero.

Universities playing a leading role in levelling up the UK and spreading opportunity have been celebrated at the the Levelling Up Universities Awards 2022.

Every month on our guest blog we get the thoughts of leaders in the higher education sector.

This month we hear from Professor Mark Smith, Vice Chancellor of Southampton University, about levelling up and the importance of diverse views to drive change.

In our latest blog, Anne Milton talks obesity and its extensive impact on physical and mental wellbeing.

In our latest blog, Lord Walney discusses hybrid working and the evolving role of the office.

Former Cabinet Minister, the Rt. Hon. Justine Greening, has formally launched the University of Worcester’s new Levelling Up report during a special visit to the City.

It’s National Loneliness Week and although the world has once again opened up, and most of us are free to carry on with our lives as usual, the problem of loneliness hasn’t gone away.

The University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) has signed up to a new framework to measure its social impact. UWTSD has partnered with former Education Secretary Rt Hon Justine Greening to produce an impact report that will map its activities against the Purpose Goals framework.

Virgin Money and the Purpose Coalition launches report assessing its current impact on levelling up across the country.

In our latest blog, Anne Milton discusses the potential links between socio-economic deprivation and dementia.

The University of Derby has launched a Levelling Up Impact Report in partnership with former Education Secretary Rt Hon Justine Greening. 

The Shoosmiths Foundation reflects that ambition to make a difference. Launched in 2021, it aims to help address societal issues, facilitate sustainable change and improve the lives of the people and the environment across the country through grants to UK registered charities undertaking work here.

Purpose Business Coalition to publish a Cost of Living Best Practice White Paper to highlight the work that is being carried out across the UK.

The document will set out the actions and initiatives taken by a range of businesses that are having a direct impact on creating a country that has real equality of opportunity.

Sometimes it’s the smallest things that make the biggest difference - the tiny adjustments we can make to our lives, often over time, that will significantly improve them. That is certainly true of our physical health, but it is also true of our mental health. Often the two are inextricably linked.

Read our monthly guest blog from leaders in the higher education sector. This month we hear from Professor Karen Bryan, Vice-Chancellor of York St John University.