UK Innovation Districts Group Associate Members Arup, will be joining leaders working across the built environment, placemaking and economic development roles, at the annual UK IDG Summit this Friday (5 June) in Liverpool.
Arup and UK IDG have been collaborating on industry research and policy white papers for almost a decade and today UK IDG can announce that Jack Baker – Senior Urban Designer and Architect at Arup, and Charlotte Cutter – Arup Consultant, will be joining other place-based innovation specialists to facilitate two of the three workshops at the 2026 Summit.
Charlotte will be convening a conversation on ‘Crowding Investment into Innovation: developing prototypes’. Jack will facilitate a workshop – ‘Mapping and Maximising Entrepreneurial Skills – lessons from Liverpool, Newcastle and Belfast’.
Last week UK IDG reported that Metro Dynamics are to facilitate the workshop ‘From data to decisions: how good data drives good outcomes’ – you can read more on that news here: https://www.ukinnovationdistricts.co.uk/uk-innovation-districts-summit-power-up-session-with-metro-dynamics-announced/
Arup, is a global consultancy with 18 UK-based offices and they have been operating in the built environment space for 80 years. A thought leader in the innovation district space, Arup collaborates with UK IDG Members, government agencies, businesses, research partners and placemakers to deliver inclusive and sustainable growth for UK cities and regions.
The team brings with them a wealth of experience, from policy leadership and mapping innovation ecosystems, developing the spatial proposition and case for innovation-led investment, to partnering with universities and other anchor institutions that drive the research and commercialisation capabilities of innovation districts. This includes convening and accessing innovation talent, and identifying opportunities to connect businesses, skills, people and places.
As long-time advocates of the ‘inclusive innovation agenda’, Arup will be sharing their experience working with innovation districts and ecosystems to support economic growth – creating local jobs for local people, and designing places and networks that attract people and investment.
At last year’s Summit UK IDG launched the action paper ‘Unlocking UK Innovation Districts to accelerate Industrial Strategy outcomes’ highlighting the vital role innovation districts play in delivering key elements of the UK’s Industrial Strategy. This paper was co-produced with Members, including Associate Members Arup, who generously supported the development of the report. Lessons learnt from this and policy recommendations made, will feed into this year’s workshops facilitated by Charlotte and Jack.
Ciara Graven, Senior Economist at Arup is one of 100 delegates set to attend the Summit in Liverpool this week. Ciara said: “We are delighted to be both attending and facilitating workshops at the UK Innovation Districts Summit this year! These events convene place-based innovation district leaders and partners from across the UK, bringing people together who just wouldn’t get the opportunity to meet face-to-face otherwise. It’s a great opportunity for people to get together to share knowledge, insights and experiences – and to build those all-important relationships that help shape innovation-led economic growth across the UK.”
The UK Innovation Districts Summit 2026 is being held at the Everyman Theatre, Liverpool, with support from UK IDG Member Knowledge Quarter Liverpool, during the city region’s Innovation Investment Fortnight. The Summit is for UK IDG Members, policy makers, placemakers, entrepreneurs, and changemakers designing and delivering innovation districts, economic growth and placemaking activity. The event is currently at capacity but you can join the waiting list and be notified if any tickets become available here: UK Innovation District Summit 2026
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the UK Innovation Districts Group Summit 2025 on 23 September at London Knowledge Quarter!
The day brought together leaders from across the UK to explore how innovation districts can unlock inclusive growth and deliver on the UK’s Industrial Strategy. Discussions spanned:
Collaboration and partnerships: What’s the secret behind Innovation Districts and why they are so popular? With Gemma Carpenter (Vice-Chair, UK Innovation Districts Group), Jodie Eastwood (Knowledge Quarter London), Stephen Jones (Core Cities UK), Matt Mason (The Crown Estate).
From Insight to Action: The Role of Innovation Districts in delivering the Industry Strategy – Kavita Tailor (ARUP) introduced the UK IDG’s latest action paper – Unlocking UK Innovation Districts to accelerate Industrial Strategy outcomes.
Investing in innovation: unlocking growth via Innovation Districts – with Emma Frost (Chair, UK Innovation Districts Group), Emily Robson, (KQ Liverpool), Natalie Gasson-McKinley MBE (British Business Bank), Alan Welby (Connected Places Catapult).
Empowering the Next Generation: Youth Entrepreneurship as a Driver of Innovation – Eamon Banerjee (Urban Foresight) introduced the UK IDG Entrepreneurial Skills report.
Skills, Startups, and Districts: Shaping the Future of Youth Entrepreneurship – with Vasant Chari (Connected Places Catapult), Alisdair Gunn (Glasgow City Innovation District), Charlie Charlton (Newcastle Helix), Phil Smith CBE (Skills England), Professor Hanifa Shah OBE (Birmingham City University)
Catch up on the key reports shared during the event:
