What enables an Anchor Network to thrive?

Q&A with Amy Beswick and Lisa Fisher, Leeds Anchor Network

Since 2018, Leeds Anchor organisations have come together to address some of the city’s biggest challenges. Six years on the Leeds Anchor Network is a thriving and inclusive partnership, making an impact to tackle poverty and reduce health inequalities in Leeds. 

What has underpinned the success of this network? We spoke to Amy Beswick and Lisa Fisher from Leeds City Council who share their learnings and recommendations for others wanting to set up cross-sectoral regional anchor partnerships.

Firstly, what is the Leeds Anchor Network?

The Leeds Anchor Network (LAN) brings together 13 of Leeds’ largest employers from a range of sectors - including the council, NHS trusts, higher and further education, culture, and utilities.

These organisations are rooted in Leeds and play a significant role in shaping our city. They have committed to a number of focus areas where they can collectively make a difference to tackle poverty and reduce health inequalities in Leeds, such as employment, procurement, environment and assets, service delivery, and corporate and community behaviours. Together, this important partnership helps to realise the Leeds Best City Ambition, by jointly tackling poverty and inequality.

As the profile of the network has grown over time, there’s been increased interest from other organisations to act as anchors.

In 2023, we launched the Leeds Business Anchors Network, uniting nine large private sector businesses to drive local positive change. Established as a separate network, it allows these businesses to develop their own collaborative practices and scope common focus areas. Over time we envision the two networks working increasingly closely together.

What impact are you seeing so far?

Collectively, the Leeds Anchor Network employs over 58,000 people, including nearly 2,000 apprentices. Their collective influence means that the potential to make a difference at the city-wide level is huge - and we’re already seeing the difference that this anchor way of working is making across Leeds:

Some highlights include:

• Reducing their environmental impact: Leeds Anchors reduced their CO2 emissions by 35,000+ tonnes in 2020/21 compared to 2019/20

• Using their spending power locally for social benefit: In total, Leeds Anchors spent £820m in the Leeds economy in 2022/23.

• Widening access to quality work: 68% of Anchor employees live in Leeds and 24% live in the 20% most disadvantaged areas of the city.

At the organisational level, we have numerous case studies demonstrating local impact from anchor practices. For example, Leeds Beckett University integrated social value criteria into procurement, raising local discretionary spending to 35% in 2023, with over 60% of construction spend within 30 miles of Leeds. Targeted supplier work also led to over 50% of spending with Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and firms in the 15 most disadvantaged neighbourhoods, boosting the local economy and job opportunities.

One of their suppliers, Tiffin Sandwiches, reflected on the impact of this approach:

“Leeds Beckett put their trust in us and this paved the way to our expansion.  Starting as a tiny Bradford shop we now employ 450 staff, increased to 5 depots and are a proud nationwide supplier”

We know first steps can be difficult, so how did Leeds Anchor Network start out?

Back in 2014-16 the council worked with Joseph Rowntree Foundation and other local partners to identify potential ‘Anchors’ in the region and understand their potential contribution to the local economy. The report found that if ten anchor organisations shifted 10% of their spend to local suppliers, it would contribute up to £196m to the city region economy.

The review built a profile around the concept of ‘anchor institutions’ and helped galvanise the local conversation about how, through targeted collective action, anchor organisations could become transformational in strengthening the local economy, reducing inequality, and improving health outcomes in Leeds.

Following this, Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Leeds City Council funded a pilot anchor project in Leeds, and in 2018 Leeds Anchor Network (LAN) was formally launched.

What advice do you have for people looking to set up an anchor network?

Starting a network of your own is a long-term project that takes time, persistence and resources to build, but the benefits can be huge. Hear Eve Roodhouse, former Chief Officer Culture & Economy at Leeds City Council, share her advice to others looking to set up an anchor network:

As Eve summarises, there are a number of ingredients that help make a successful network:

Investing in relationships

Good working relationships between senior leaders of anchor organisations are crucial to getting a network started and making progress, backed by shared high-level commitment and strategic ambitions. Relationships need to be invested from the start, and in turn momentum, stability, reliability and cohesion will follow. 

Convening and decision making

Setting the right meeting structure and rhythm is essential to maintaining momentum. In Leeds, senior leaders meet quarterly, supported by regular sub-group meetings focused on local employment, procurement, and sustainability. A strong Chair who embodies anchor values within their own organisation is crucial.

Leadership is shared across member organisations, with Leeds Beckett University chairing the Executive group and various organisations chairing the working groups.

Establishing common goals and tracking progress 

In Leeds, anchors self-assess their progress using a ‘progression framework’, which acts as a guide to measure, monitor and evaluate their current and potential impact.  This has been really important to underpin the network, because it means that all anchors are committed and united in working towards the same goals.

Securing commitment and resources

It’s important to secure initial commitment from a small group of influential large organisations across sectors, including investment in resources to facilitate, convene and grow the network. This investment upfront unlocks the potential to secure additional funding in the future. 

Find out more about our powerful network. We’re also pulling together the Leeds Anchor Playbook  - a guide written especially for those looking to start a network. Watch this space for more detail on this!

• Leeds Anchor Network is supported by the Health Foundations’ Economies for Healthier Lives programme, which is supporting partnerships across the UK to promote health and reduce health inequalities through economic development strategies. Find out more about Economies for Healthier Lives.

• Health Anchors Learning Network is supporting local authorities, health organisations, businesses and others to develop anchor action. Interested in learning more? Register for our newsletter to receive the latest case studies, events and resources, or get in touch at hello@haln.org.uk.