North West Policy Partnership Launches to Strengthen Regional Evidence Use

A new North West Policy Partnership is being developed to bring together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners from across the region to strengthen collaboration, share evidence, and support better-informed policy decisions on local priorities.

Led by Manchester Metropolitan University’s policy think tank, MetroPolis, in partnership with the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, the initiative will bring researchers and policymakers together to address some of the most pressing policy challenges facing the North West. These include inequalities in health, employment, housing, skills, and productivity. The Partnership will build on proven national approaches while tailoring them to the North West’s unique governance and policy context.

The timing of the initiative reflects significant momentum around devolution and place-based policy across the region. Greater Manchester and the Liverpool City Region are central to UKRI-backed programmes such as the Local Innovation Partnerships Fund and the Innovation Accelerator Programme, increasing demand for robust, locally relevant evidence. At the same time, the Government has signalled its intention to support Lancashire’s move towards a Level 3 devolution deal, bringing new opportunities for region-wide collaboration and policy innovation.

The Partnership’s activities will include the organisation of policy roundtables, workshops, and conferences on regional priorities, alongside targeted events tailored to the needs of local decision-makers. It will also act as a hub for accessible research summaries, policy briefings, and case studies, and will offer rapid evidence reviews to support timely decision-making.

Capacity-building will be a central feature of the Partnership’s work, with training and mentoring opportunities to support researchers in effective policy engagement and to help policy professionals access relevant academic expertise. By encouraging collaboration across institutions, the Partnership will also support the development of joint funding bids and co‑produced research projects aligned with regional strategies.

In the longer term, the North West Policy Partnership aims to strengthen the region’s collective voice in national policy debates, ensuring that North West perspectives are informed by strong evidence and reflected in policymaking at a national level. Initial thematic areas are expected to include inclusive growth and good work, health and social care integration, skills and productivity, housing, climate and sustainability, and digital innovation in public services.

For further details on how you can get involved please contact Katherine Roycroft k.roycroft@mmu.ac.uk or Chris Peters chris.peters@lstmed.ac.uk