Celebrating the success of the United Kingdom Town and Gown Conference 2024 in Manchester

From the 10th to 13th November, Manchester played host to the highly successful United Kingdom Town and Gown Conference, an inspiring event that brought together delegates from across the UK—and even as far afield as America and Canada. Attendees shared ideas, celebrated achievements, and built meaningful connections, all with a focus on strengthening the relationships between universities and local communities.

The conference commenced on Sunday with bespoke town and gown training, offering tailored insights and strategies to enhance university-town partnerships. This foundational activity set the tone for the event, attended by 10 delegates, all keen to dive deeper into practical approaches for improving collaboration.

Monday marked the official opening of the conference, featuring an energising programme of 12 sessions that covered a broad spectrum of topics, from community engagement to sustainable campus initiatives and fostering successful partnerships. Delegates were treated to two exceptional opening keynote speeches. Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, and Professor Duncan Ivison, President and Vice-Chancellor at The University of Manchester, delivered thought-provoking talks on the value and future of collaboration between higher education institutions and their surrounding communities.

Following the keynote addresses, the opening day continued with an insightful plenary session titled ‘Forging Connections through Planning, Architecture, and Policy: Best Practice in Navigating the Complex Spaces of Town and Gown’. This plenary brought together a panel of expert professionals who shared their varied experiences and expertise in tackling the challenges and opportunities in this field.

Monday evening’s reception was held in Manchester’s iconic Rates Hall. The grandeur of the historic venue provided a fitting backdrop for networking and celebrating the city’s vibrant heritage. Delegates enjoyed connecting with peers while soaking in the rich atmosphere of one of Manchester’s architectural treasures.

Tuesday brought an even busier schedule, with 14 dynamic sessions that explored pressing issues, shared best practices, and sparked innovative ideas. A standout highlight of the day was the ‘state of the nation’ opening keynote address by Dr Simon Merrywest, Director of DSE, University of Manchester, which provided a forward-looking perspective on the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of town-gown partnerships. This was followed by a compelling plenary session focusing on ‘Civic Engagement and the University: Impact on Hyperlocal Communities’. This plenary rightly highlighted the growing importance of universities working closely with local communities to drive impactful change.

The day concluded with the glittering UKTGA Awards Dinner and Dancing event, a celebration of outstanding achievements in the sector.

The awards recognised the exceptional contributions of organisations and individuals.

The winners were:

• Partnership Award: Queen’s University Belfast Neighbourhood Engagement Team, PSNI and Belfast City Council
• Student Citizenship Award: University of Nottingham for their Community Engagement Ambassadors Program
• Community Champion Award: Kirsty Hutchison, University of Manchester
• International Award: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University for their Partnerships for Progress project
• Student-led Community Initiative Award: Derwent Facilities Management for their Student Warden Programme at Brunswick House

Delegates celebrated these successes over exceptional food, and the evening ended with dancing and camaraderie, carrying the celebrations into the night.

Wednesday offered a meaningful conclusion to the conference with a community-focused activity. Over 20 delegates volunteered for a campus and community litter pick route, which included stops at historic points of interest around Manchester. This activity underscored the conference’s emphasis on fostering deep connections between universities and their local stakeholders while highlighting Manchester’s rich cultural and academic heritage.

The United Kingdom Town and Gown Conference 2024 was a resounding success, demonstrating the power of collaboration, shared learning, and community spirit. From thought-provoking sessions to celebratory moments, the event served as a shining example of how universities and their partners can work together to overcome shared challenges and seize opportunities to create a brighter future.

Thank you to all our delegates and speakers who contributed a brilliant conference.

Also, a special thanks to our wonderful sponsors who helped make the conference possible; British Heart Foundation, Student Pad, Cover 4 Insurance and Link Strategic Partners.

UKTGA HQ