The EU referendum result has created an environment of uncertainty which poses a wide range of political, social and economic challenges. A key partner for local authorities and LEPs in solving these challenges are business schools – locally based, internationally facing and expert in policy, industrial strategy and business support.

As the Government prepares its strategy to fulfil the electorate's expectations, we need to be prepared to manage the threats to business schools and therefore local economies borne out of cuts to university research, further restrictions on the freedom of movement of students and an end to EU funding for regional economic development programmes.