The partnership will see the Council use insight from Loughborough University London – based in Hackney at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park –  to help inform its ambitions to build a fairer, greener local economy and a more environmentally sustainable borough.

The university, which is part of a cluster of universities and enterprises at the tech and innovation campus Here East, will use the agreement to ensure its research delivers real social, economic and educational value for the local community. 

It will see the Council and Loughborough University London work together to address cross-cutting challenges and inequalities faced by our communities, build an evidence base of what works to close the gap between research and practice, and maximise opportunities for a locally-based university to contribute to civic life and the local economy.

The agreement, made as part of a joint memorandum of understanding signed by both organisations, builds on a long standing collaboration since the university first moved to Hackney eight years ago.

Most notably, the Inspiring Success programme, now in its eighth year, has supported over 100 unemployed or under-employed graduates from east London through employability workshops and scholarships at Loughborough University London. This has already seen 37 people graduate with postgraduate qualifications. Of those completing their studies 79% are already in graduate level employment.

Philip Glanville, Mayor of Hackney, said: “In the ten years since 2012 we’ve seen the huge benefits that the transformation of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and the organisations now based there have created in terms of job, facilities and opportunities.

“Having renowned institutions like Loughborough University based here in Hackney is a major advantage to the borough and at the heart of a long-term legacy from London 2012.

“This partnership is a milestone in our commitment to collaborating more actively with these organisations to ensure local people and businesses here in Hackney are the first to benefit from the expertise they bring.”

Professor Tony Edwards, Dean of Loughborough University London, said: “We’re delighted to be working in partnership with Hackney Council on such hugely important issues.

“The partnership will enable us to build on the Inspiring Success programme, offering employability support and funding for unemployed or underemployed graduates within the borough, and we’ll be able to use our research to directly benefit the Hackney community.”

The organisations will now progress a shared work plan, focusing on projects including continuing the Inspiring Success programme, developing the work of the Council’s Diversity in Tech Commission, creating a shared programme of health research and identifying opportunities for Loughborough University London students to take up placements in Hackney Council and in local businesses.