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Leeds Anchors

Leeds Anchor Network brings together 13 of the city's largest employers across local government, health, culture, education and utilities. 

Anchors come together to focus on areas where they can make a key difference for the people of Leeds- as employers, through their procurement, their environmental impact, through their core services, and as civic partners.

Read our 2025 Partnership Report here

Video: An introduction to Leeds Anchor Network

Anchor networks

  • 'Anchors' are defined as large organisations that are rooted in a place and are invested in the development of their local areas.
  • Since 2018, large public sector organisations and utility companies in Leeds have been working together as Anchors to deliver inclusive growth and make a positive difference for people in Leeds.
  • Given their scale and influence, the decisions they make about how they operate can make a significant contribution to local employment, business growth, skills, incomes, health and wellbeing. 
  • Leeds Anchors are:
    • British Library
    • Department of Health & Social Care
    • University of Leeds
    • Leeds Beckett University
    • Leeds City College
    • Leeds City Council
    • Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust
    • Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
    • Leeds Trinity University
    • Leeds & York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
    • Northern Gas Networks
    • Northern Powergrid
    • Royal Armouries.

How we measure our impact

  • The Leeds Anchor Network is all about turning theory into practice and making the best possible use of the combined power we have as a network.
  • We demonstrate the practical steps that anchors can take to boost their contribution to inclusive growth and make a real difference to local employment, incomes, the city’s net zero carbon goals, and its economy.
  • We use the Leeds Progression Framework self-assessment tool that helps anchor organisations to self-assess where they are now, where they want to be and how to get there.

Leeds Anchors Impact Metrics

  • 61,000 employees - two-thirds live in Leeds
  • 2,400 apprentices, up 28% in four years
  • 90% of employees paid Real Living Wage or above (Real Living Wage Foundation rates)
  • Gender pay gap reducing and below the Leeds average
  • Increasingly diverse and representative of the Leeds population
  • £600m spent in Leeds, a £90m increase on the previous year
  • 139,000 tonnes CO2 reduction over five years (scope 1 & 2)

Data from 13 members of Leeds Anchor Network for financial year 2024/25.