Our economic and social impact

ºÚÁϳԹÏ꿉۪s impact extends across the city, region, and UK. Through education, skills development, research commercialisation, and community engagement we’ve improved lives and fuelled economic growth.

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About our social and economic impact 

More than a century ago, the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø of Sheffield was established on civic principles, a foundation that continues to drive our commitment to delivering economic, health, educational, social, and cultural benefits to Sheffield and beyond. 

To gain a deeper understanding of our impact, particularly in South Yorkshire, we commissioned a study by . 

Their analysis, focusing on the 2022-23 academic year, provides compelling evidence of the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø's significant economic and social contributions to the city, region, and the UK.

EIA statistics

“The findings demonstrate how critical universities like ours are to the long-term economic and social prosperity of the UK – whether that is here in our region, or on a national or global scale. The government has been clear that it wants universities to make an even stronger contribution to economic growth, while increasing their civic role.

Professor Koen Lamberts

President and Vice-Chancellor of the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø of Sheffield


Key economic impact findings 

  • The total economic impact associated with the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø of Sheffield activities in 2022-23 stood at £4.82 billion
  • For every £1 of expenditure, £6.40 of impact was generated by ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø
  • The estimated impact of the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø research and knowledge exchange activities stands at £1.8 billion
  • The impact of the ºÚÁϳԹÏ꿉۪s expenditure on the UK economy stood at £539 million
  • The ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø generated £55 million of intellectual property (IP) licensing income
  • The impact of the 2022-23 cohort of international students stood at £1.3 billion.
Image of graphic showing the South Yorkshire region

Regional impact 

  • Our activities supported a total of 22,990 full time jobs across the UK economy in 2022-23 and over half of the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø of Sheffield’s regional impact is felt in Yorkshire and the Humber, of which more than 80% occurs in South Yorkshire.
  • The number of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø of Sheffield spinouts and start-ups operating in the UK in 2022-23, with 60% located in South Yorkshire.
  • ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø of Sheffield graduates remain in Yorkshire and the Humber than from any other regional institution, and our graduates achieve higher rates of sustained employment or further study compared to other Russell Group universities in Great Britain.
EIA statistics for students

Social impact

  • The ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø has 2,200 student volunteers, who contribute more than 36,000 hours of their time to local community groups and charities.
  • Our healthcare students also make an impact even before graduation, in 2022-23, 750 students contributed over 365,000 hours to NHS clinical placements, directly improving patient lives.  

Our universities are vital to the regional economy, and they help us to showcase just how much Sheffield has to offer on a global scale. The ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø is an important partner, and we look forward to continuing our relationship, driving economic growth and building on Sheffield's status as a vibrant, warm and welcoming place to live, work and study.â€

Councillor Martin Smith

Chair of the Economic Development and Skills Committee at Sheffield City Council

Our vision

We are the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø of Sheffield. And this is our vision.

A global reputation

Sheffield is a world top-100 research university with a global reputation for excellence. We're a member of the Russell Group: one of the 24 leading UK universities for research and teaching.