• The Brunel Centre will support growth, industrial strategy and prosperity in the West of England by carrying out and sharing pioneering economic research on the region
  • The partnership will create a virtual data observatory, provide consultation and engage with business and policy leaders
  • Launch event to take place at The Roman Baths in Bath tonight (Thursday 3 July)
  • University of Bath and UWE Bristol Vice-Chancellors, Futures West Chair Sir Iain Gray and Brunel Centre Director Dr Lucy Martin will speak at the event

The Brunel Centre, a new data and research centre designed to support sustainable and inclusive growth and industrial strategy in the West of England, will officially launch today (Thursday 3 July).

A launch event will take place this evening at the Roman Baths in Bath.

Futures West Chair Sir Iain Gray, University of Bath Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Phil Taylor, University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) Vice Chancellor Professor Sir Steve West, and The Brunel Centre’s Director, Dr Lucy Martin, will speak at the event.

Created through a partnership between the University of Bath, UWE Bristol and Futures West, the Brunel Centre will pioneer new approaches to economic research and data analysis, making its findings publicly available to inform businesses and policymakers in the region and enable new collaborations to help power the region’s industrial strategy.

Dr Lucy Martin, Director of the Brunel Centre, said: “We have an ambitious brief to deliver real economic insights, tools and information to help the West of England grow, train people, attract investment, tackle inequalities, improve sustainability and become an even greater place to live and do business.

“Success for us will be seeing our research used when political or business decisions that affect the West of England are being made, whether in the region or at a national level.”

The Centre will receive Research England Development funding of £4.5 million over the next five years, to March 2030, but the partners behind the Centre aim to ensure it becomes a long-term, permanent capability for the region.

Mayor of the West of England, Helen Godwin, said: "This £4.5 million investment in research for our universities is a fantastic boost for the West of England—and a real game-changer for our region’s future. The Brunel Centre’s work will help drive the kind of growth that creates new opportunities, supports local jobs, and brings real benefits to people and businesses across the region. I’m excited to see how the Centre’s insights will make a lasting difference in our communities.”

Its main aim will be to tackle long-term economic challenges for the region. This includes raising productivity, enabling sustainable and inclusive growth, driving innovation, and supporting key regional sectors and firms.

Futures West will build on the strengths of its relationships across the private sector to ensure the Centre’s research programmes are relevant and impactful. This includes working closely with the West of England Combined Authority, local authorities, regional businesses, and global corporations located in the region.

The Brunel Centre will deliver new capabilities to the West of England:

  • A publicly accessible, online and real-time data hub and observatory on the economic performance of the region. This will cover the labour market, skills, productivity, business creation, innovation, R&D, trade and investment
  • Newly available data and research with regional businesses and civic actors creating new insights in areas including education, skills, training, innovation and productivity
  • Carrying out an initial strategic audit of the region’s economy that will be published in early 2026 and plans to produce quarterly reports on the economic picture in the region following this
  • Consultancy and stakeholder-funded projects to support key decision makers in the region with the insight and evidence needed to inform action
  • Events and workshops for public, private and third-sector stakeholders in the region to enable collaborations that facilitate inclusive and sustainable economic growth

Futures West Chair Sir Iain Gray said: “This launch comes at a crucial period for the West of England, following the election of a new Metro Mayor and several funding announcements that will benefit our region. Now is the time to make a compelling evidence-led case for investment that will benefit our businesses and economy. Futures West will promote the Centre’s insights to businesses and policymakers and will leverage our private sector relationships to ensure the Centre’s research programmes are relevant and impactful.”

MP for Bath Wera Hobhouse said: “The Brunel Centre, led by the University of Bath and working across the whole West of England, offers a tremendous opportunity to build our regional capacities and boost jobs, investment and productivity. I look forward to working with the team and helping to amplify their important outputs in Westminster.”

MP for Filton & Bradley Stoke Claire Hazelgrove added: "As the MP for the Filton and Bradley Stoke constituency, which includes UWE Bristol, and as a graduate of the University of Bath, I’m delighted to see our excellent regional universities come together with the business community to help drive growth and investment for the West of England.

"The Labour Government’s recent Spending Review and Industrial Strategy present a sea change in creating greater opportunities and connectivity for our region and I look forward to working with the new Brunel Centre to make the most of the fantastic opportunities and talent we have here."