Universities are crucial to sparking growth and opportunity, by bringing together student populations, research partners, local businesses, and employers to create vibrant communities, jobs, and opportunity across the UK. This series of briefings takes a look at how universities are generating growth and opportunity across the nine regions of England. Universities in the North West can be found in the major, world-famous cities of Liverpool and Manchester, but also in smaller towns and cities dotted across the region. Recent analysis by London Economics estimated that universities in the North West alone contributed £10.4 billion in gross output and £6.5 billion in gross value added to the UK economy. This figure includes the economic activity generated by employing people, their purchasing of goods and services, and the local spending power of staff and students. In 2021-22, universities in the North West spent nearly £2.6 billion on staff. Staff spend a proportion of their income with local businesses and on local services which supports a thriving economy.