The KEF results show very high engagement in CPD and graduate start-ups, and high engagement in local growth and regeneration, community engagement, and working with the public and third sector.
The results, which mark the fifth iteration of the KEF, highlight the University's commitment to its role as an anchor institution in the region, helping to address societal challenges, support economic growth and empower communities across South Yorkshire.
Professor Sarah Pearson, Dean of Research Innovation and Knowledge Exchange at Sheffield Hallam University, said: “I am pleased with the University’s performance in the latest KEF assessment. We are committed to being a leading applied university and our strong results for engagement in graduate start-ups and supporting continuous professional development is testament to that.
“We are a university proudly of our region and we are pleased to be recognised for our engagement in local growth and regeneration and community engagement. We achieve this through partnerships and collaboration and as we look to the future, we will continue to strengthen those ties within and beyond the region.”
One example of how the University supports graduate entrepreneurs is through the Hallam iLab, a dynamic co-working space that provides specialist facilities and support to start-ups and entrepreneurs. The University provides expert one-to-one business advice, helping entrepreneurs develop products, services and processes as well as connecting them with the regional business community, and providing access regular workshops and events.
The University plays a pivotal role in local growth through initiatives like the South Yorkshire Innovation Programme (SYIP). Led by Sheffield Hallam alongside the University of Sheffield and Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council with £3 million backing from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, the programme provides vital innovation support to organisations across the region including academic consultancy, technical projects, and access to university facilities.
As well as innovation, Sheffield Hallam supports the continuous professional development of the workforce across the region in both the public and private sector. The University is a delivery partner for the Government-funded Help to Grow: Management scheme designed for business owners and senior leaders of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) who are keen to grow their organisation. The University’s Sheffield Business School has supported the delivery of the course to over 260 participants since it launched in September 2021.
The Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF) is a landmark tool that helps universities and policymakers understand how higher education is driving forwards to achieve economic growth and societal benefit across England.
