Place-Based Collaboration
Register for the Combined Authority Network and apply for a Collaboration Partnership
Deadline to register and apply is 29 October 2025, 1pm
Mayoral combined authorities are central to making lasting change. You have shared incredible examples of improving outcomes for children and young people across education, skills and employment – on the ground and through national influencing - and that you’re keen to scale this work or innovate other approaches. Therefore, a significant focus of our new strategy is focussed on place-based collaboration with mayoral combined authorities.
There are two ways that we aim to invest in and support mayoral combined authorities. Each MCA can:
Join the Combined Authority Network [add link to form] to amplify your leadership and influence. Two staff members at each MCA will be part of the core network group, taking part in a thought-provoking and impactful programme of learning, events, collaboration and retreats. This is coupled with specific engagements to unite Metro Mayors and senior leaders from each MCA. The network is fully funded by the FEA and provides an opportunity to reflect on your context, spark innovation, and collaborate on solutions that improve outcomes for children from low-income backgrounds, backed by expert support and a £150,000 shared fund.
Apply for a Collaboration Partnership [add link to form] to receive investment in ambitious ideas to close the education, skills and employment gaps for children and young people in your area. We will partner with three MCAs, providing each one with dedicated staffing, support and up to £300k unrestricted collaboration fund. These partnerships leverage the combined authorities unique convening role, uniting FEA members, schools, young people and businesses in your area to test and scale innovative solutions, driving change together. There will be a lead person at the MCA who manages this partnership; however, we will support and work with multiple stakeholders from across the MCA as relevant.
To make this an efficient and valuable process for you and your colleagues, our ‘Guidance Document [add link] gives you all the information you need to register for the Combined Authority Network and apply for a Collaboration Partnership. You can find information about each process in the relevant sections, but we’ve also included a high-level application checklist to guide you through the process.
Cover image of Guidance Doc
Combined Authority Network
The Combined Authority Network is a national leadership programme designed specifically for mayoral combined authorities (MCAs) to address the most pressing challenges facing children and young people from low-income backgrounds. Two staff members from each MCA will be part of the core network group, engaging in a dynamic and impactful programme of learning, events, collaboration, and retreats. Alongside this, there will be specific engagements for Metro Mayors and senior leaders. This collaborative space allows MCA senior leaders to share challenges, spark innovation, exchange best practices, and explore ambitious, collective approaches to improving regional outcomes.
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By registering, your MCA will secure a 2.5-year package of leadership development, peer collaboration, and shared investment including:
👥 Leadership development – two senior staff members from your MCA will take part in a co-created programme, including eight overnight retreats and regular peer sessions, building skills and insight to lead systemic change. In addition, relevant staff across the MCA, including the Metro Mayor and CEO, will have access to tailored sessions to support cross-sector leadership and collaboration.
💡 Peer learning and innovation – a national platform to share challenges, test ideas, and co-design practical solutions with fellow MCA leaders.
🌍 Expert input – access to national and international thought leadership, evidence-based tools, and the latest insights from across education, skills, and employment.
🤝 Cross-sector collaboration – direct links to the FEA’s 300-member network, including schools, employers, and civil society partners.
💷 Shared investment fund – access to a £150,000 collective pot to develop tools, commission research, or deliver joint training initiatives.
📢 Joint advocacy – leverage the collective voice of the Combined Authority Network to advocate for shared challenges and policy changes, amplifying your MCA’s influence and driving regional and national impact in education, skills, and employment.
📈 Profile and influence – opportunities for your Metro Mayor, CEO, and senior leaders to champion your work, connect nationally, and shape the wider education, skills and employment agenda.
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Joining the Combined Authority Network is straightforward. All you need to do is download and complete the registration form, which asks for:
Key information about your MCA – to help us process your registration.
Information about your nominated participants – each participant should complete a few short questions about their role, experience, and motivation for joining the network.
Signed commitments – confirmation from the nominated participants and the Metro Mayor and CEO to support participation in the network.
Once complete, please return the form to info@faireducation.org.uk.
Deadline: All registrations must be submitted by 29 October, 1 PM. We encourage early submissions where possible, as this helps us shape the network’s design and ensure it meets participants’ needs.
Once you’ve submitted your form, we’ll be in touch to confirm your MCA’s place in the network and next steps.
If you’d like to find out more, need any support, or want to have a conversation about the opportunities, we’d love to hear from you. Please email the FEA team, and we’ll get back to you within two working days.
Collaboration Partnerships
Our Collaboration Partnerships empower local leaders to drive systemic change through tailored support, funding, and a shared commitment to improving outcomes for young people in your region. They bring together MCA teams, Metro Mayors, schools, employers, young people, FEA members, and other local actors to tackle pressing challenges or unlock major opportunities that are holding back children and young people from low-income backgrounds. By working across sectors and systems, Collaboration Partnerships aim to improve education, skills, and employment outcomes, giving young people a better chance to thrive.
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If your MCA is selected as a Collaboration Partner, you will receive a 2.5-year package of investment and support including:
💷 Funding – up to £300,000 unrestricted investment to tackle your chosen challenge, plus a £35,000 convening budget for stakeholder engagement.
👤 Dedicated capacity – an embedded senior lead (employed and funded by FEA), working with your MCA to drive the partnership forward.
💡 Expert guidance – tools for systems mapping, innovation design, and evaluation, alongside tailored support from the FEA team and access to national thought leaders.
🤝 Collaboration and influence – connections to FEA’s 300-member network, peer MCAs, and policy forums to share learning and shape systemic change.
📈 Sustainable impact – a chance to test, refine, and scale approaches that can be embedded locally and shared nationally, positioning your MCA as a leader in tackling educational inequity.
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The application and selection process are designed to help you showcase your MCA’s vision, highlight your strengths, and demonstrate the value of partnering with the FEA. We encourage applications from MCAs at all stages of their journey. Whether you're just beginning to explore collaboration opportunities or are already well into your work, we want to hear from you.
Application process:
Review the Guidance Document: To get all the information you need about applying for a Collaboration Partnership please read through this document.
Written application: Applications are made using a Word document, designed to make it easy to collaborate with colleagues and gather input from the relevant people in your MCA. You can download the editable application form here to complete and submit.
The form includes questions to help us better understand both the specific context in which your MCA operates and the core challenge you aim to address through the Collaboration Partnership with FEA support. The questions are designed to provide the selection panel with a clearer picture of your MCA’s priorities, ambition, and alignment with the FEA’s mission and equity goals.
Your responses will contribute to the selection panel’s decision. While they are not the only factor we will consider, they will play an important role alongside interviews and conversations with your team.
In person interview with our selection panel: If your MCA applies for a Collaboration Partnership, you will be guaranteed a two-hour interview with our selection panel between 10th and 13th November which will take place in your area. This interview is designed to help us get to know you, your team, your context, and the core challenge in more detail. We ask that the Collaboration Partnership Lead, the Metro Mayor, the CEO, and any other staff critical to your partnership attend.
We recognise that securing time for senior leaders can be challenging. If you plan to apply for a Collaboration Partnership, please fill in this short form as soon as possible to share your availability. If you foresee an issue with the Metro Mayor and/or the CEO attending, please specify this in the availability form. We will then be in touch to hold the necessary time in everyone’s calendars.
Applicant Support
We want you to feel fully supported at every stage of this process and are offering 1:1 support calls with the FEA’s CEO and Director of Place-based Change throughout the application window for MCAs interested in the Combined Authority Network or Collaboration Partnerships. These calls are your chance to ask questions, discuss your priorities and ideas, and receive tailored guidance to strengthen your application.
We strongly encourage you to take advantage of this support early, and book at least one call before submitting your Collaboration Partnership application. You are welcome to book additional calls as your thinking develops.
For any questions or to arrange a call, please email place@faireducation.org.uk.
Key dates
12 September: Application window opens
29 October, 1PM: Deadline to submit your application
17 October – 7 November: Please hold 2 hours to prepare for the interview and review the Partnership Agreement. Ahead of 17 October, the FEA will share:
Guidance on how to prepare for the interview
The Partnership Agreement for you to review
10 – 13 November: Interviews for Collaboration Partnerships
By 20 November: MCAs will be notified of the decision and sent the Partnership Agreement
By 1 December: Deadline for Collaboration Partners to return a signed copy of the Partnership Agreement. Please ensure you have held time for any internal review and sign-off process to meet this deadline.
By 5 December: Feedback provided for all applicants
8 December: Fair Education Alliance Summit – this is when Collaboration Partnerships will be announced and the Combined Authority Network will launch. Therefore, whether or not your MCA is selected, we strongly encourage you to attend the Summit as part of the Combined Authority Network. As a key player in your region, your insights and leadership are vital to the national conversation. The Summit will be a valuable opportunity to connect with other regions and the FEA’s network of 300 members, share learning, and help shape thinking on tackling educational inequity together.