LJMU delivers £474m boost to city region economy

New independent research has found Liverpool John Moores University delivers more than £470m of value to the Liverpool City Region economy and almost £900m to the UK every year.

The report by AMION Consulting analysed data and carried out surveys to assess the economic and social impact of the university’s activities locally and nationally.

Its findings confirm LJMU as a key driver of economic growth, social mobility and community engagement.

Economic contribution

AMION assessed LJMU’s annual contribution to the city region economy to be £474m, supporting more than 6,218 jobs.

The figures are calculated from LJMU’s direct operations, the value of its research and knowledge exchange, supply chain impact, its contributions to the tourism and visitor economy, and staff and student spending.

LJMU supplies more graduate employees into the Liverpool City Region economy than any other university - 28% of the overall graduate intake. There are also more than 250 LJMU start-ups in the city region.

Nationally, the university’s activities generate £880m in gross value added, supporting more than 10,600 jobs across the UK.

Social value and impact

The report sets out the huge impact LJMU delivers each year in social value across the city region.

The university is a key enabler of social mobility, with 45% of its students coming from the most deprived 40% of neighbourhoods. Its outreach activity engages with 43,000 pupils to create pathways to higher education.

The new research finds that LJMU delivers an estimated £174.6m in social value each year, which takes into account:

• An LJMU graduate wage premium of £102m, demonstrating the value of a qualification from the university over the course of a career
• Distributional benefits of £59.8m linked to improved equality of opportunity for students from disadvantaged backgrounds
• The value of 1.08 million student volunteering hours (£11.5m) to local organisations and good causes 
• Value to the community (£1m) of 202,000 attendees at free LJMU cultural events and activities

The report clearly demonstrates that LJMU and our people make a positive impact in so many different ways, from furthering social mobility and giving back to our communities, to developing the highly-skilled workforce of the future and adding significant value to the local and national economy.

Professor Mark Power, Vice-Chancellor of LJMU

Professor Power continued: “These are real, tangible impacts and they are made possible by the expertise and commitment of our staff and students, past and present, and the strength of our partnerships at home and abroad.

“I’m extremely proud of the role our university plays in the life of our city and our communities and we will look forward to building upon the findings of this report in the years ahead.”

Dr Aileen Jones, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (External Engagement and Partnerships) at LJMU, said: “The positive impacts LJMU delivers to the economy and our communities, as clearly set out in this report, reflect both the strengths of the university and the effectiveness of our partnerships.

“It is by working in collaboration – with businesses, local and national government, schools and colleges, community groups and many other organisations large and small – that we are able to leverage our influence and expertise to make a real difference.

“We will continue to strengthen our existing partnerships and seek new opportunities to collaborate in order to build upon the successes demonstrated in this report.”

In our region, we’re more committed than ever to delivering a more prosperous future for our communities so that it is the best place to grow up, grow a family, and grow a business – where no one is left behind. LJMU is playing a huge role in that mission as a key partner organisation and through the expertise and dedication of its staff, students and alumni.

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region

The Mayor added: “As this report demonstrates, LJMU is integral to the success of our city region. The significant economic impact of its activities helps to support and drive inclusive growth, creating jobs, providing a skilled workforce and enabling our businesses to innovate and develop."

Matt Budd, Director of Research and Evaluation at AMION Consulting, said: “It has been fantastic to work with Liverpool John Moores University on this vitally important study. 

“The evidence presented highlights the university’s substantial economic and social impact locally and nationally. It has also been a pleasure to collaborate with stakeholders from across the Liverpool City Region. Their lived experiences and case studies brought to life the university’s powerful role in widening access, advancing social mobility and strengthening civic life. 

“We are proud to support the university in demonstrating the breadth and depth of its impact.” 

More information

Read more about the findings in the AMION executive summary.