With the Lambert Review the seeds for universities collaboration with the private sector were sown and the Leitch Review is pushing the agenda further. Skills for the economy, knowledge transfer, research collaboration, employer engagement: these are just some of the major themes that need to be addressed by HEIs and private business together in the future. Formal research collaboration is a valued income stream for UK universities at almost £600 million. This event provided an assessment of current initiatives for University-Business collaboration and focused on evaluating and sharing good practice in how to appropriately and effectively engage in it. Bringing together senior education staff and organisations concerned with issues surrounding engagement of universities and the private sector, the conference provided a platform to exchange and develop ideas and share expertise in how to develop sustainable and effective partnerships between academia and the private sector.