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New agreement brings key Bristol organisations closer together

Andrea Dell (co-head of the City Office), Professor Guy Orpen, Mayor Marvin Rees and Craig Cheney (Deputy Mayor for Finance, Governance, Performance and Culture).

Press release issued: 10 March 2020

A new agreement between Bristol City Council, the University of Bristol and the City Office has been agreed that will see closer working between the organisations in developing a city of hope and ambition.

The memorandum of understanding agreed between the parties states their intent to collaborate under a number of themes aimed at promoting the aims of the One City Approach.

The agreement was signed by Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol, on behalf of the Council and the City Office and Professor Guy Orpen, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Bristol.

Their commitment will see all parties provide opportunities for each other to benefit from greater collaboration. These opportunities will include sharing knowledge to achieve shared goals, identifying areas where academic expertise can inform policy and practice, providing placements for students and staff to transfer between organisations and the development of the city’s international reputation.

Just one example is the creation of six Bristol City Fellows, appointed to tackle some of the challenges outlined in the One City Plan, with a focus on the concerns of diverse communities. The Fellows will work with charities and community groups over 18 months to ensure marginalised voices have a say in decision-making and in turn tackle systemic inequalities across Bristol.

Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol, said: "Bristol is home to many major organisations that are truly world class in their field and bring an enormous amount of knowledge and prosperity to the city. We have already achieved much to build a successful city with an international reputation through individual operations but there is so much more we can achieve together.

"This agreement represents another level of collaboration that provides a solid foundation from which we can deliver the goals of the One City Plan. By sharing knowledge, skills, experience, resources and opportunities, we can unlock the full potential of our organisations and meet the challenges we face today and in the future."

Professor Guy Orpen, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Bristol, said: "Our researchers are among the best in the world, and are working together with our city partners to find lasting solutions to some of society’s most pressing problems.

"This pooled expertise has already benefited the amazing city we’re proud to live in and, through signing this historic agreement with Bristol City Council and the City Office, our efforts will have renewed impetus and even greater scope to bring about positive change for all in the city."

Whilst the agreement promotes the sharing of knowledge and information it states clearly that no confidential* or commercially sensitive information will be shared between the parties. All parties remain open to enter into agreements with other parties and promotes greater collaboration between third party organisations. This builds on the joint working between the council’s culture team and the Faculty of Arts where a Memorandum of Understanding is already in place.

Further information

*This includes information subject to the Data Protection Act 2018 and the General Data Protection Regulations provisions.

For further information about the Bristol City Fellows, please see its blog page and a recent press release announcing the appointment of the four new fellows.

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