What if growth isn’t the goal, but grounding is?
In this episode of Shift Beyond Conversations, host Rich Jones opens up an honest and hopeful dialogue with Nic Whyley, Senior Philanthropy Manager at the University of Salford, about what it means to rediscover purpose in a world where institutions often confuse size with significance.
The Shift Beyond series explores a radical reframe: what if success isn’t measured in how big our organisations become, but in how deeply they stay rooted in the communities they serve?
Across each episode, leaders, thinkers, and practitioners explore how we can build solutions without building empires – how we design systems that listen before they lead, share power rather than hoard it, and create impact that lasts longer than any single project or institution.
This conversation takes us inside one of the UK’s most civic-minded universities, a place where the walls between academia and community are deliberately being dismantled. Nic shares how the University of Salford is reconnecting with its original mission as a technical institute for working people, and what that history can teach us about the future of higher education.
Together, Rich and Nic unpack the biggest questions facing universities, funders, and civic institutions today:
What happens when “growth” becomes the default measure of success?
How can philanthropy move from transaction to transformation – from donations to shared design?
What does it look like for universities to act not as empires, but as neighbours co-creating with the communities around them?
And how do we design learning systems that don’t just widen participation, but close the gap between opportunity and equity?
Throughout the conversation, Nic reflects on how the University of Salford’s partnerships – like its work with Tutor Trust, where students mentor local schoolchildren – are helping redefine what it means to study, to serve, and to succeed. It’s a model of education that grows people, not just institutions.
The episode invites listeners to reimagine what growth could mean when it’s grounded in purpose. It’s a conversation about humility, partnership, and the quiet courage it takes to build systems that share power, not prestige.
It reminds us that impact isn’t about getting bigger, it’s about getting closer.
🎙️ Hosted by Rich Jones, CEO of St Andrew’s Community Network and Angels Connect.
🎧 Produced in partnership with Shift Beyond and Angels Connect – reimagining systems for dignity, justice, and change.
Nic Whyley, Senior Philanthropy Manager
The University of Salford
