The national Civic University Agreement initiative is supported by over 50 universities and is rooted in four key principles:

• Understanding local populations, and asking them what they want. Analysis of their place and people’s priorities are essential.
• Understanding themselves and what they are able to offer.
• Working with other local anchor institutions, businesses and community organisations to agree where the short, medium and long-term opportunities and problems lie for communities. Linking with local authorities and other local plans, such as the local industrial strategy is particularly important.
• A clear set of priorities. A process of agreeing clear priorities will therefore be necessary and, again, this is where collaboration and aligning resources with local authorities,  NHS bodies and the like can help to identify the live issues that universities can most usefully help with.

In late 2025/ early 2026 all the universities in the West London Universities Partnership, signed a Statement of Intent of Collaboration between West London Boroughs and Higher Education Institutions.  This was organised by the West London Alliance through the West London Economic Prosperity Board.

Many West London’s universities are also developing Civic Agreements and partnerships with their host local authorities, for example Brunel University of London and the University of West London.  Other partnerships take the form of NEXUS, for example, a joint initiative between Hammersmith & Fulham Council and Imperial and Screen London Barnet from Middlesex University, Barnet Council and private sector partners.

For more information please contact us.