KPMG partners with universities on client insights

KPMG has announced the launch of a series of partnerships in an effort to drive insight for clients and support the regional economic growth agenda.

The first announced relationships are with the University of Leeds and the University of Nottingham.

Both institutions are known to have different specialities which will assist in widening the scope of the accountancy giant’s insight provision.

The partnership with the University of Leeds will primarily focus on entrepreneurship, through the university’s innovation hub, Nexus.

Meanwhile, the University of Nottingham partnership will focus on advanced data analytics, with specialists from the University’s Data-Driven Discovery Initiative.

Chris Hearld, head of regions at KPMG, said: “These first university partnerships are exciting examples of collaboration in UK cities to bring new value to business in our recovering economy.

“We will be accessing talent and expertise to support growth in the regional economies and communities in which we work across the country. Our heritage lies in the UK’s regional markets and our position within them remains one of our greatest strengths.”

He added: “We know the immense value of universities as critical drivers of the talent and innovation on which businesses depend in our cities and regions.

“Strengthening the bond between these parts of our economies has long been on the agenda of those focused on regional prosperity.”