The five separate universities across Greater Manchester came together to ask Public First to conduct rigorous research showing the impact that the region’s HE community had on both the local and national economy. Our robust, peer-reviewed analysis showed how everything from visitor spend to world-leading, cutting edge research contributed over £5bn to the UK economy and almost £2.5bn to Greater Manchester and the wider North-West, positioning Greater Manchester’s universities as essential forces in regional development and spreading prosperity.