Universities in north miss out on £54m fund

THE Government has been accused of undermining the North of England, after excluding every one of its universities from a £54m talent fund.

- By DANIEL HOLLAND Local Democracy Reporter

Mayors, MPs and universities have been left outraged after the North was left out of a drive to recruit 60 to 80 of the world’s leading researchers to the UK.

A total of 12 higher education institutions across the country will share in the Global Talent Fund, which Labour says will “fire up the UK economy” and “put rocket boosters” under its plans. While the likes of Oxford and Cambridge universities will benefit, none of the chosen 12 are from any part of the North.

Eight regional mayors, including the North East's need to change and change for good.”

Other beneficiaries of the £54m scheme include Imperial College London and the universities of Bath, Birmingham, Southampton and Warwick. Wales’ Cardiff University, Queen’s University Belfast in Northern Ireland, and the University of Strathclyde in Scotland are also in line for funds.