Impact

Impact

Real-world examples highlighting the positive economic, societal and cultural impacts of Russell Group universities in every region and nation of the UK.

Feature: Access & participation

19 February 2025
Impact story
Access & participation
University of Exeter

University of Exeter's bespoke access pathway for mature students

A mature student working in a classroom
20 January 2025
Impact story
Access & participation
UCL

UCL partnerships are widening access to HE for pupils across London

15 February 2025
Impact story
Access & participation
Research
University of Warwick

The Warwick study making life better for care leavers

17 January 2025
Impact story
Access & participation
University of Oxford

Opening new access pathways to Oxford

Research
University of Warwick

Warwick researchers fighting crime with 3D scanning

A researcher at the University of Warwick is using innovative technology to shed light on the past – and help to find justice in the face of tragedy

Yellow and black police tape reads "Crime Scene Do Not Cross"
Research
University of Leeds

Bringing together academic experts and local authorities in Yorkshire

Yorkshire’s universities are combining their expertise to co-develop policies that boost local communities.

A sweeping view of the hills in the Yorkshire Dales
Innovation
University of Leeds

Driving innovation for a healthier, greener and inclusive future for Leeds

The University of Leeds is driving regional innovation and economic growth through its place-based approach, leveraging research and innovation expertise, student talent, and collaborative partnerships.

Two members of staff stand chatting inside the Nexus innovation hub at Leeds University
Research
Newcastle University

Newcastle University is innovating to support an ageing UK population

Meeting the needs of an ageing population is one of the biggest long-term challenges facing UK health and social care. Developing treatments, new products to support independent living and enhancing care services…

An artist's impression of the future Health Innovation Neighbourhood in Newcastle
Innovation
Research
Cardiff University

Broken String Biosciences: the Cardiff spinout speeding up drug development

Cardiff University spinout Broken String Biosciences is building a new technology platform designed to make cell and gene therapies safer, more efficient and more affordable for patients and health services such as…

Innovation
Research
UCL

Autolus: the UCL spinout creating life-changing treatments for incurable blood cancer

UCL spin-out Autolus – which since its inception in 2014 has raised $921.6m, now employs over 460 people and has plans to expand its production facility in Stevenage – continues to partner with UCL and NHS hospitals…

Two female researchers work in a laboratory at Autolus
Access & participation
Education
UCL

UCL East: innovative arts and science initiatives on a new campus in Newham

UCL’s creation of a new campus in Newham has brought numerous initiatives to benefit the local community and developed in collaboration with local government

Research
University of Sheffield

Building a global Advanced Manufacturing hub in Sheffield

The University of Sheffield transformed the former Orgreave coking plant – the site of violent clashes between pickets and police during the miners’ strike in 1984 - into a global hub for advanced manufacturing…

Innovation
Queen's University Belfast

Preparing for a safe digital future in Northern Ireland

To achieve a safe digital future, collaborative innovation between industry and academia must keep pace with new technologies like AI and quantum. Russell Group universities are finding new ways to use research and…

Research
University of Oxford

ILESLA: advancing interdisciplinary, experiential learning for Oxford doctorates

The University of Oxford, in partnership with five leading institutions, has launched the Interdisciplinary Life and Environmental Science Landscape Award (ILESLA).

Innovation
Research
LSE

Zinc: the LSE accelerator tackling major social challenges on a global scale

Zinc, co-founded by LSE, is helping entrepreneurs, including academics, build technology-focussed companies to help tackle major social challenges on a global scale.

Research
LSE

LSE's Just Transition Finance Lab: supporting local net zero transitions

Working with the Energy Systems Catapult, London School of Economics Just Transition Finance Lab conducted an applied research project with Westminster City Council and Cumberland Unitary Authority to enhance the…

Research
University of Liverpool

Unilever and the University of Liverpool

Supported by QR funding, Liverpool and Unilever's long-term strategic partnership established the Materials Innovation Factory (MIF) – a world-class centre for materials chemistry and microbiome research.

The exterior of the Materials Innovation Factory building in Liverpool
Innovation
Research
University of Glasgow

Chemify: the Glasgow spinout digitising chemistry

Chemify, a University of Glasgow spinout company, aims to revolutionise the field of chemistry through digitisation, speeding up the development of drugs and m

Innovation
Durham University
Newcastle University
University of York

Northern Accelerator: boosting the north east economy

Northern Accelerator is an innovative collaboration between Durham, Newcastle, Northumbria, Sunderland, Teesside and York universities to commercialise research and boost the region’s economy.

Research
Cardiff University
University of Bristol
University of Exeter

Revolutionising supercomputing with Isambard-AI

The Isambard project, pioneered by the University of Bristol, has transformed the supercomputing landscape, harnessing mobile-device technology to build faster, more affordable, and energy-efficient high-performance…

The Bristol Centre for Supercomputing, home to the Isambard 3 supercomputer