Public Collaborations: What are they for? Who does all the work? How long do they last? And who really benefits?

Session Outline and Objectives

You hear a lot about ‘partnership’—but what does it really take to make collaboration across councils, universities and civic bodies work? And who actually benefits?

Yorkshire Universities, alongside strategic partners Yorkshire and Humber Councils (YHC) and Y-PERN, have spent the last four years testing that out. Together, they've raised over £30 million in national investment and created one of the UK’s most promising cross-sector civic collaborations. But behind the headlines lies a story of patience, persistence and plenty of elbow grease.

In this refreshingly honest session, Kersten England CBE and Dr Peter O’Brien pull back the curtain on what it really takes to make partnerships between Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), local authorities, and Combined Authorities deliver something meaningful.

You’ll get the unvarnished truth:

What makes partnerships work—and what quietly causes them to fail.
Why collaboration often feels like a second job, and what’s needed to change that.
How one regional Memorandum of Understanding became a national exemplar, and what your council could take from it.
Real-world examples from across Yorkshire’s towns and cities, all at different stages of devolution but facing similar pressures. No sugar-coating. Just practical, place-based learning you can use.

Takeaways

Insight into how long-term HEI–council collaboration has unlocked millions in research funding to tackle health inequality, climate risk, and more.
Candid lessons from the front line of civic partnership—what works, what wastes time, and why.
Strategic ideas you can adapt locally, especially if you're rethinking how to stretch limited resources further.
A deeper appreciation of the people and structures that drive (or derail) collaboration across sectors.