Key partnerships and strategic relationships

Kingston University works in partnership with a range of UK-based and international businesses, consortiums and government bodies to support educational, business, social and cultural interests.

To find out more about our local social, cultural and economic impact, please see our In the community section.

Strategic relationships

South London Partnership

As the largest University in South West London, Kingston University works closely with the South London Partnership (SLP). The partnership is formed by a sub-regional collaboration of five London boroughs (Croydon, Kingston upon Thames, Merton, Richmond upon Thames and Sutton) which works together and with partners in and beyond our area to champion and seek to build on the many strengths of South London.

With a population of 1.2 million and a GVA of £28 billion, building on many years of collaborative working, SLP focuses on issues where working together adds value to what individual boroughs could achieve on their own.

Current priorities are:

• Covid-19 recovery, rebuild and develop resilience
• accelerating and increasing the potential for economic growth
• securing transport investment and improvements to address chronic congestion and link people to jobs throughout the sub-region
• helping businesses access the skills they need to succeed and grow and strengthening all residents' skills and pathways into work
• supporting the integration and transformation of health and care services to increase health and wellbeing of our residents
• exploring opportunities for greater efficiency and effectiveness through innovation and new ways of working.

Royal Borough of Kingston (RBK)

Representatives from across the University sit on various committees led by Royal Borough of Kingston. In 2016, we partnered on a joint European Regional Development Fund bid to develop 'The Exchange' – which aims to provide affordable workspace and a networking and support hub for local businesses.

Key partnerships

Salutem

Salutem is one of the fastest-growing care groups in the UK delivering learning and physical disability services, children's services, education services and mental health services.

Since 2018 Salutem have been involved in various entrepreneurial activities at Kingston University. They have judged students' ideas at our flagship Bright Ideas competitions, and run a hackathon with students from multiple disciplines to come up with creative ways to use technology to monitor, predict and manage complex behaviour in Salutem's service users.

The hackathon has led to Kingston University and Salutem working on a government-subsidised project to bring artificial intelligence to areas of care that will allow more time for human one-to-one care, whilst reducing menial tasks that are performed better and safer if automated.

Salutem have also committed to supporting the care sector by providing scholarships for academically excellent students who might not have otherwise been able to go to university. This academic year Salutem are supporting two students on the Learning Disability Nursing course, and will look to widen the support to more Kingston students in other areas of care over the next three years.

The long and deep relationship between Kingston University and Salutem is based on the personal connections the two founders have with Kingston University: Ian Morley, Chairman of Salutem is an Industrial Fellow of Kingston and taught on the MSc Strategic Finance Course; the daughter of John Godden, the CEO of Salutem, studied at Kingston. These personal relationships have led to a more structured business collaboration in recent years.

"The hackathon was a hugely positive experience for all involved. The students were energised and engaged creating innovative solutions and ideas that were really impressive. The University team communicated well and created a great sense of focus and expectation to make the most of the time we had together and meet the challenging brief we set." – Zoe Anderson, Group Head of Positive Behaviour Support for Salutem Healthcare

Key partnerships in Kingston-Upon-Thames

Kingston Chamber of Commerce

Kingston Chamber of Commerce (KCC) represents the interest of business communities across the borough and works closely alongside the council. The Chamber provides networking, training, advice and business opportunities and a host of events.

A representative from Kingston University sits on the Board of the Chamber and has collaborated on several projects including their Kingston Business Expo which has been held at Kingston Business School for the last four years.

Community Brain

The community interest company Community Brain works with communities to develop their sense of identity, cohesion and strength through activity. We have worked together on government-funded and student research projects under the supervision of Kingston University academics.

Kingston First

Established in 2005, Kingston First is an independent not-for-profit company which drives initiatives that support the commercial success of Kingston's business community. Kingston First was the UK's first Business Improvement District (BID).

A representative from the University sits on the Board of Kingston First. Joint projects have included working with students to design tourist information bikes, explore new concepts and designs for Kingston riverside and to create and run 'pop-up' shops in the town centre.

We feel privileged to work in a borough that fosters a collaborative approach to supporting the local community and businesses.

Integrated Business Support group (IBuS)

The Integrated Business Support group (IBuS) consists of Royal Borough of Kingston, Kingston Chamber of Commerce, Kingston First, Kingston College, Kingston Voluntary Action and Kingston University. The aim of the group is to work together to ensure that local businesses, whether commercial or non-profit making, have access to the comprehensive and integrated business support services across the borough.

Kingston strategic partnership

We are a member of the Kingston Strategic Partnership (KSP) which aims to set the overall vision and direction for partnership working in Kingston by bringing key partners together from the statutory, voluntary and business sectors. KSP is chaired by the leader of the council.

Kingston Young Entrepreneurs Club

The University is a founding partner of Kingston Young Entrepreneurs Club (KYEC), a membership organisation which gives local young entrepreneurs a forum to network and grow. Other partners include RBK, Kingston Chamber of Commerce, Kingston College and Metro Bank.