New Partnership for BGU and Liverpool Cathedral

Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) has secured a new Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) with Liverpool Cathedral. The three-year project represents a total value of £263,715 and aims to develop methods for measuring and evidencing the impact of Liverpool Cathedral on new and existing audiences.

The partnership between BGU and Liverpool Cathedral will be part-funded (75%) by UKRI Innovate UK and (25%) by the organisation. Over the last 45 years, UKRI’s programme has enabled more than 14,000 businesses to drive innovation for positive impact.

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships help businesses improve their competitiveness and productivity through the better use of knowledge, technology, and skills within the UK knowledge base. The programme creates a dynamic three-way partnership between a business, a specialist academic team, and a graduate or postgraduate (the Associate).

Prof. Scott Fleming, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at BGU said: “This is an important new initiative for Bishop Grosseteste University and demonstrates how we can collaborate with businesses across the UK supporting local communities. We are delighted Liverpool Cathedral has chosen to work with us on this project.”

According to Liverpool Cathedral, the aim of the partnership is to gain a firm understanding of how interacting with the Cathedral in various ways benefits people and the communities of Liverpool more broadly. By measuring its social impact, Liverpool Cathedral will address knowledge gaps in a unique way to shape the delivery of its vision.

Through the project, the Cathedral aims to build a strong faith-based community to serve the social needs of the Liverpool City Region, secure sustainable funding to support that mission, and expand activities to respond to the changing needs of Liverpool today. The Cathedral says it hopes to become a flagship for other similar faith organisations engaging with 21st century society.

The Very Revd Dr Sue Jones, Dean of Liverpool Cathedral said: “As Dean of Liverpool, I am committed to research-based leadership. I welcome the collaboration with Bishop Grosseteste University, a Cathedral Group University, that has developed the science of Cathedral studies.

“This KTP will strengthen the mission of Liverpool Cathedral, supporting our understanding of the community we serve. It will also strengthen BGU’s research capacity in the field and we look forward to the partnership developing.”

Mick Card, Knowledge Transfer Adviser said: “This project with Liverpool Cathedral is an exciting opportunity to support its ambitions to understand and evidence the impact the Cathedral is having on a diverse range of new and existing audiences.

“I am delighted to be working with Bishop Grosseteste University on their second KTP project and look forward to many more in the future.”

The academics involved in supervising this project are the Revd Professor Leslie J. Francis (Professor of Religions, Psychology and Education at Bishop Grosseteste University) and the Revd Dr Sally Harper (Honorary Professor in Cathedral and Sacred Music Studies, World Religions and Education Research Unit, Bishop Grosseteste University).