The General Election of December 2019 ended the political gridlock of the previous three years. The question of whether we remained in or left the European Union was definitively settled, and not in the way universities had hoped. In this report, the authors call for fundamental change. Now, they argue, is the time for universities to become a critical resource to their localities and to Government in helping to shape more inclusive social change. The authors consider the importance of partnerships, progression and place in order for the sector to fulfil its civic responsibilities and to ensure our post-18 education system realises its full potential.