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“A direct route to inform policymaking and deliver impact” in our city region.

23 Jun 2026

Colleagues and our GM Policy Hub support GMCA and Manchester City Council to create Areas of Research Interest pilot, which will also influence our outputs over the next decade under Manchester 2035 strategy.

Aerial shot of University and city

Our Greater Manchester Policy Hub and academic colleagues have supported the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and Manchester City Council (MCC) with the development of an Areas of Research Interest (ARI) pilot for the city region.

Joint workshops with academic and policy experts, and subsequent consultation within the GMCA and MCC, has led to the development of 13 ARIs which will support with the delivery of long-term strategic goals.

The ARIs have been modelled on elements of the Greater Manchester Strategy and the Our Manchester Strategy and focus on two priorities: good growth and prevention.

“We are delighted to be working with the GMCA and MCC as part of a collective effort towards a shared vision – to improve the future of this city region,” Vice-President for Civic Engagement and Innovation, Professor John Holden said.

“The ARIs have been shaped by a commitment to good growth and prevention, which will also influence the outputs of our University over the next decade under our new Manchester 2035 strategy.”

Vice-President for Research, Professor Colette Fagan added: “This ARIs pilot gives academics a direct route to inform policymaking and deliver impact.

“By setting clear questions, it enables targeted, high-value evidence to shape local strategies and improve lives across Greater Manchester. I'm pleased The University of Manchester works collaboratively with GMCA and Manchester City Council and I am confident this new initiative will deepen our academics’ involvement in helping to drive improvement in the city-region’s future.”

The pilot aims to:

  • Inform policymaking and test the ARI model at local government level;
  • Build stronger partnerships between policymakers and academic experts;
  • Support effective processes for identifying and prioritising research questions;
  • Broaden the range of voices shaping GM policy, supporting the region’s commitment to equality and inclusion.

Launched in early June via the GM Consult website, the pilot will run for six months and academics are strongly encouraged to respond. It will help policymakers to access expertise and evidence, with ARIs operating successfully in various branches of government for almost a decade.

“Greater Manchester has been the UK’s fastest-growing sub-regional economy in recent years, and we’re proud of that progress. At the same time, we recognise that too many people across our communities are still experiencing high levels of deprivation,” Group Director of Strategy at the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, John Wrathmell explained.

“The Areas of Research Interest, developed in partnership with Manchester City Council and supported by The University of Manchester, will help us build a stronger evidence base to understand what sits behind this and, crucially, how we can ensure economic growth translates into a better quality of life for everyone.

“With delivery plans already in place at both Greater Manchester and city level, the ARIs will help focus our research and insights, supporting our long-term ambitions set out in the Greater Manchester Strategy.”

Discover more

More information is available via the Policy@Manchester website and the GMCA Research Team.

You can also visit Manchester 2035 for the story of our strategy.