King's College London

Led by London Higher, the representative body for universities across the capital, the campaign is supported by a new publication setting out the sector’s contribution to the UK and wider world.

It reports that nearly 550,000 students study at more than 140 higher education institutions across London, with both figures exceeding those for New York City, Boston and Singapore.

Together, these institutions are worth £60.9 billion a year to the UK economy through teaching, research and innovation. They also generate more gross value added than the Premier League and support 188,000 jobs across the UK – exceeding the nationwide workforces of major companies including Sainsbury’s, Marks & Spencer and Barclays.

Giving the opening address, Professor Kapur, who is also Chair of London Higher, said:

“London’s higher education sector is one of the UK’s greatest strategic assets. Its strength helps ensure the UK remains competitive, connected and influential on the world stage.

“But global leadership is never permanent. Cities around the world are investing heavily in higher education and innovation. If the UK wants to remain internationally competitive, we must continue to nurture the conditions that allow London’s universities and research institutions to thrive.”

In a foreword to the publication, the Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, also described the sector as a critical national asset:

“A strong higher education sector in London strengthens the country as a whole. Our universities collaborate with partners in every region of the UK, and the research, skills and enterprise they generate drive national productivity, support public services and bolster the UK’s competitiveness and influence on the global stage.”

A leader in frontier innovation

The publication highlights London’s strength in frontier industries, citing its position as the world’s leading technology ecosystem outside the United States in a ranking based on venture capital, enterprise value and links to higher education.

Among the top 2.5% of universities globally in the latest QS World University Rankings, King’s helps drive this through pioneering research and partnerships spanning academia, government and industry. It is a founding academic partner of the Francis Crick Institute, the UK’s flagship institute for biomedical discovery research, and co-leads the London Quantum Cluster with UCL and Imperial College London to accelerate quantum research, innovation and commercialisation.

Through King’s Innovation Catalyst and the Entrepreneurship Institute, the University also supports students, staff and alumni to turn ideas into new ventures, including through its Start-up Accelerator. Since 2016, the accelerator has supported more than 210 early-stage King's ventures, generating over £180 million in revenue and nearly £141 million in investment.

As an example of inclusive support for entrepreneurship, the publication features the Women Entrepreneurs Network, which has helped the Start-up Accelerator achieve gender parity among founders for four consecutive years.

Held at UCL, speakers at the launch event included King’s Fellow Howard Dawber OBE, Deputy Mayor of London for Business and Growth, and Lord Kulveer Ranger, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for London.

Read London: Higher Education Capital of the world