Hartpury University and Hartpury College continues to grow positive, impactful, and innovative partnerships with local authorities paving the way for a range of community regeneration projects across the region.
Recently secured Shared Prosperity Funding will power three community-focused initiatives aimed at enriching lives, boosting jobs, enhancing economic opportunities, and upskilling local people.
Empowering farmers to embrace digital advancements, Hartpury’s Technology and Local Knowledge (TaLK) projects will see the university further expand the reach of its pioneering Agri-Tech Centre to deliver a package of free digital support services for farming businesses.
Designed to address the ‘real-world’ digital challenges and barriers faced by the agri-food industry, TaLK will utilise funding to deliver an unprecedented package of fully funded support for farming business in Stroud and Monmouthshire that will cover areas such as connectivity, data management, cyber-security, technology application and digital skills.
Ben Thompson, Hartpury Agri-Tech Centre Manager said: “We now have the funding we need to take the Hartpury Agri-Tech Centre ‘on the road’ to help even more farmers make the most of their technology and data.”
In addition, the Hartpury Sports Business Hub is utilising its allocated funding investment to bolster grassroots sports in Gloucester. The Hub will further expand its range of support services to community hubs and sports clubs. From upskilling volunteers to digital or financial skills project is supporting community assets and local people working in diverse sports clubs, leisure centres, playing fields, and community centres across Gloucester.
Michael Green and Alex Kay from Hartpury University's Sport department, commented: “The funding creates a fantastic opportunity for the Hartpury Sports Business Hub to continue its work supporting local sports clubs and organisations. These clubs and community centres are often the heartbeat of local communities, and we hope with this additional support they can deliver even greater impact. The benefit of this project also extends to our students who will gain ‘real world’ practical experience aligned with curriculum content - helping enhance their knowledge and understanding of the UK sports industry."
Recent examples of students taking part in real-world partnerships include helping to boost and facilitate physical activity in schools, and carrying out a consultancy project to boost physical activity funding in Wales.
Stuart Emmerson, Director of Business Development at Hartpury said: “This Shared Prosperity Funding will make a huge difference to our partners and their local communities. The projects will harness Hartpury’s specialist expertise to deliver training and support packages and generate opportunities that drive economic, environmental, and social value. Being able to positively support farming, community and sporting sectors is more important than ever. We are grateful to Stroud, Monmouthshire and Gloucester City Councils for their support and excited to be playing a pivotal role in supporting these vital sectors.”
In 2022, Hartpury was named as the no.1 specialist STEM university for local growth and regeneration, in the second publication of Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF) results released by Research England. The KEF has placed Hartpury in the highest possible band for ‘Local Growth and Regeneration’.
