Universities are critical to the success of a growth-driving industrial strategy, and to the sector plans, which must capitalise on the higher education sector's contributions: (1) developing a high-skilled workforce for the nation; (2) collaborating with businesses, further education colleges and Mayoral Strategic Authorities to bring coherence to skills supply across and within regions; (3) being place makers: strengthening industrial clusters, generating spin-outs, driving regional growth and embedding the industrial strategy into local growth plans; (4) embedding entrepreneurial education across the curriculum and supporting entrepreneurship; (5) encouraging inward investment and attracting talented researchers; and (6) strengthening research capabilities and driving the growth sectors of tomorrow. Universities stand ready to support the delivery of the industrial strategy over the next 10 years. However, to maximise their contribution, the UK government must ensure that the higher education sector is on a sustainable financial footing.