Read: Southampton partnership signs up to Levelling Up Goals

A leading group of organisations within Southampton have teamed up with former Education Secretary Justine Greening in a bid to level up the city.

Southampton Connect brings together key city partners, such as Southampton Solent University, Southampton City Council and Southampton FC, to improve the outcomes of the people of Southampton. 

The partnership will see Southampton Connect measure its activity against a new levelling up framework. Southampton Connect will produce a Levelling Up Action Plan to map its work against the Levelling Up Goals and share best practice.  

Launched earlier this year, the Levelling Up Goals are the UK’s first levelling up framework to focus efforts on driving equality of opportunity at key life stages, and other barriers that can stifle opportunity. The 14 Goals provide a universal benchmark for organisations to measure their progress against.

The Levelling Up Goals are the first major piece of work by some of the UK’s most purpose-led businesses, universities and public sector organisations, including the BBC, Direct Line Group, Pennon Group, Persimmon and the University of Lincoln, that make up the Purpose Coalition.

Justine Greening said: “I’m thrilled to be working alongside Southampton Connect on a Levelling Up Action Plan. It’s encouraging to see the whole of the city of Southampton coming together to play their role in levelling up the region.

“The Levelling Up Goals architecture gives a clear benchmark for organisations to measure their impact against. The challenge now is for more purpose-led organisations to do their bit to boost opportunity and social mobility as we recover from the pandemic.”