A Civic Engagement Agreement is being signed today by Plymouth’s four largest employers – Plymouth City Council, Babcock International Group (Babcock), University of Plymouth and University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust – in a pioneering, voluntary commitment to address the root causes of inequality and drive inclusive, city-wide transformation.
This landmark step collaboratively brings together major institutions in a coordinated approach to deliver social value, reduce deprivation and improve long-term outcomes for Plymouth households.
A Shared Vision for Inclusive Growth
At the heart of the Agreement is a shared belief: that the complex challenges facing Plymouth, such as job accessibility, health inequality, economic inactivity and skills, can best be addressed through collective action.
The Civic Engagement Agreement sets out an intention for collaboration, guiding partners to align their expertise and resources across shared priorities including workforce development, community well-being, placemaking, and supply chain engagement.
The Civic Engagement Agreement is working alongside and in collaboration with Growth Alliance Plymouth (GAP). GAP is the partnership between Plymouth City Council, Babcock International Group and The Royal Navy to ensure vital defence outputs are delivered into the future while driving sustainable and inclusive growth in the region.
What This Means for the People of Plymouth
Local residents and businesses will see new, joined-up approaches through the Civic Engagement Agreement’s focus on:
- Being inclusive in employment practices
- Strengthening local supply chains
- Supporting staff, students and volunteers to work with communities to improve health, education and social infrastructure
- Reducing the environmental impact of operations internally and in supply chains.
Ultimately, the Civic Engagement Agreement aims to ensure that public services and institutions work better together to improve life outcomes for Plymouth residents.
Strategic Commitments from the Partners
Plymouth City Council
“This Agreement gives us clarity of four focus areas for collective action where we can make the biggest difference through our social value action” said Tudor Evans Leader of Plymouth City Council “It allows us to better coordinate services and investments that influence community wellbeing, ensuring we act with purpose—and with our partners, act with strength.”
Babcock International
John Gane, Managing Director for Babcock’s Devonport site, said “As one of Plymouth’s largest employers supporting over 11% of the city’s workforce—we understand the vital role we play in shaping a thriving, inclusive future for our community. At Babcock, we are proud to lead the way in regional skills development, expanding vocational opportunities and opening new career pathways that empower local talent to succeed. Our commitment to sustainability and social value is deeply rooted in our support for local communities, charities, and civic initiatives. As a key anchor institution in Plymouth, we are already making a meaningful impact, but through this Civic Engagement Agreement, backed by Growth Alliance Plymouth, we have the opportunity to achieve even greater things together. This partnership is not just about progress, it’s about creating lasting, transformative change.”
University of Plymouth
The University of Plymouth’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Richard Davies says:
“Knowledge and skills are vital to unlocking growth, encouraging investment, and helping our city fulfil its enormous potential.
“We believe that universities should serve their communities, and this agreement sets a new standard for civic responsibility in higher education.
“Our University is proud to be helping lead that journey here in Plymouth.”
University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
Sarah Brampton, Deputy Chief Executive: “We know that the health of our population is shaped by social determinants such as income, housing, environment, transport, education and work. To really improve people’s health, there needs to be a greater focus on preventing ill health and supporting our communities to be and stay well. We know we can achieve more by working together to tackle upstream causes of ill health, rather than just symptoms and coming together in this way, through this agreement, shows our commitment to doing that.”
Key Objectives of the Agreement
- Strengthen Community Well-being: Improve quality of life by tackling social determinants of health and supporting personal and community development.
- Promote Sustainable and Inclusive Growth: Drive economic growth that benefits all residents through job creation, skills development, and local investment.
- Champion Environmental and Social Responsibility: Embed sustainable practices and maximise social value through shared procurement, planning, and policy.
A Call to Action
This Civic Engagement Agreement marks a new chapter in civic partnership in Plymouth. The founding partners will now reach out to businesses, community organisations and residents to help shape the next phase of this work by contributing to the design and delivery of the detailed agreement to follow in autumn 2025.
To learn more or get involved, visit: www.plymouthcharter.co.uk/post/civic-agreement
For more information contact Ellie Tighe at Plymouth Charter, plymouthcharter@plymouth.gov.uk