West London councils and universities are set to deepen their collaboration to benefit communities, businesses, and institutions across the region. The West London Economic Prosperity Board (WLEPB) agreed to a joint statement of intent to support this enhanced partnership at a meeting on Tuesday, 16 September 2025. The aim is to support and help expedite collaboration between West London boroughs and higher education institutions over the coming months and years.

The move aims to leverage the diverse range of universities in West London, including Arden University, Brunel University London, Buckinghamshire New University, Imperial College London, London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts, Middlesex University, Richmond American University, Royal College of Art, Sheffield Hallam University, University of West London, University of the Arts London and University of Westminster.

The report presented to the board highlighted the ongoing financial pressures in both higher education and local government, making effective collaboration crucial. The report stated that these financial pressures across both higher education and local government place an ever-greater premium on working effectively together across institutions and sectors. It also noted that recent government announcements such as the Spending Review and Industrial Strategy have underlined that London-based institutions will need to work even harder, and present compelling arguments and evidence, to secure public investment.

The five shared priorities for economic growth in West London, as outlined in the report, are:

  • Equipping West Londoners with future skills
  • Promoting West London as a global innovation gateway

The joint statement of intent includes commitments to:

  • Identifying and progressing opportunities for collaboration between all partners or smaller groups of partners.
  • Involving each other where appropriate in helping to shape relevant organisational and place strategies.
  • Sharing ideas and learning which could benefit West London's communities, businesses and institutions.

The statement also aims to provide a basis for joint projects, programmes, proposals, and bids, such as:

  • Working together, and with West London businesses, to develop and take forward proposals for research and innovation collaborations which are place-based and / or address West London's sectoral strengths.
  • Working together, and with West London businesses and other providers of education and training, to support West Londoners of all ages to secure new skills, work experience, good jobs and progression in work.
  • Working together to promote and disseminate success stories involving West London institutions.

The WLEPB convened at a meeting held on Tuesday, 16 September 2025. Attendees included Councillor Muhammed Butt (Leader of the Council), Councillor Stephen Cowan, Councillor Peter Mason, Councillor Paul Osborn, Councillor Shantanu Rajawat, and Councillor Barry Rawlings.