This Academy of Social Sciences report shows how UK social sciences are making powerful practical contributions to improving places – cities, regions, counties or countries – in the UK. It includes 24 case studies highlighting how university-based social scientists are helping with place-based ‘levelling up’. It covers many different social science disciplines in all parts of the UK working on projects from the purely local to those that tackle issues that occur across the UK but that affect different areas or regions differently. The examples are not about broader social science research or policy prescriptions but practical efforts to work with private sector businesses, local authorities and local health and education bodies and others to improve area-based disadvantage in the UK.