As with prior years, we have invited a small number of delegates from the most significant sector supporters – including the major banks, auditors, and pensions advisers, and representatives from other HE organisations. They will contribute to the sessions and discussions and share their expertise as required. There are no stands, exhibition, or other sponsorship.
We have asked them to share recent projects and issues that they are working on, so that you can decide if you'd like to seek them out especially for a chat. Please find this information below.
Peter Lyons, Partner, QMPF LLP (peter.lyons@qmpf.co.uk)
I work on funding and financial advice for HEI clients including strategic debt advice, treasury management and funding of student residences (including off-balance sheet and Joint Venture deals) .
Sophie Ash, Pensions Director and Pensions Actuary, Isio (sophie.ash@isio.com)
Isio are keen to support the sector bring efficiencies into the pensions/reward - and keen to collect views as to how to help make this work.
Julie Mercer, Principal, Nous Group (debra.williams@nousgroup.com)
I would be delighted to talk to colleagues about the changing demands on university leaders and options for the future of HE provision. At Nous we are working with a wide range of universities to explore options for a sustainable future. This includes helping to develop new strategies given possible future contexts for the sector, redesigning operations to reflect the future size, shape and mode of the institution including how new technologies can improve service effectiveness and efficiency. We are also helping universities develop and realise their international strategies in a hyper competitive market and exploring new models for delivery and partnerships in research, teaching and support (including group structures and M&A).
Barrie Davison, National Sector Head, Natwest (barrie.davison@natwest.com)
Louise Tweedie, Partner, RSM (louise.tweedie@rsmuk.com)
As digitalisation embeds, we are working with universities to assess their resourcing and capabilities to transform their delivery models.
Adam Clarke, Managing Director, The Energy Consortium (TEC) (adam.clarke@tec.ac.uk)
The Energy Consortium (TEC) provide Energy and Carbon risk management services to the HE and FE sectors. As we continue the journey towards decarbonising our estates, I'm keen to explore how TEC can enhance its support for both our current and potential members in all areas of energy budgeting, energy efficiency and energy sufficiency.
Andrew Connors, Regional Head - Midlands and Head of Pulblic and Third Sector, Lloyds Bank (andrew.connors@lloydsbanking.com)
Lloyds Bank is a leading provider of banking services to UK universities and our dedicated team of HE specialists and I help clients meet their funding needs, either by lending directly or arranging funding through the capital markets, including providing support with sustainable financing and risk management. Lloyds offers a full suite of transaction banking services, where we focus on supporting HE clients’ digital transformations and driving efficiencies.
Sam Sanders, Partner, KPMG (samuel.sanders@kpmg.co.uk)
At KPMG we are supporting a broad array of leading UK and global HEIs to address, tackle and take advantage of some of the biggest threats, challenges and opportunities currently facing the sector. In particular, I would be delighted to share our capability, lessons learnt and recent experiences with anyone:
James Aston MBE, National Head of Education, BDO (james.aston@bdo.co.uk)
I lead BDO’s Education team across all service lines. While BDO is well known for external audit, we have a ‘quieter presence’ across business restructuring, forensic services and mergers and acquisitions. I have led BDO’s HE practice for over 20 years and am always happy to have a confidential conversation with BUFDG colleagues on any matter.
Nick Pidgeon, Director, Tribal (nick.pidgeon@tribalgroup.com)
Our financial benchmarking and student survey offer is perfectly suited to address the current pressures facing the sector. We are helping our client universities prepare for tighter times by showing them how to allocate expenditure as effectively and efficiently as possible; to remain financially sustainable, and to improve the student experience. Through our globally leading student survey, the International Student Barometer, we are making sure our clients know exactly what their international students value most. And we are delivering projects FAST – because there’s no time to waste; preparing for the future needs to start now.
Ben Minter, Portfolio Director, Cazenove Capital (ben.minter@cazenovecapital.com)
We currently partner with 42 UK universities and higher education institutions, most of whom have a progressive approach to sustainability, thereby looking to align their investments with their ethical or environmental priorities. The key topics we're talking to universities about are:
We will shortly be publishing our latest report for universities considering net zero investment policies. In partnership with BUFDG, the report is designed to be a practical guide to aligning your university's investment strategy with your climate ambitions.
Leo Jones, Head of Education & Not-for-profit Organisations, Commercial Banking, HSBC (leojones@hsbc.com)
I head our education sector banking proposition for HSBC in the UK. Our sector aligned teams understand the challenges and opportunities facing the sector and we provide support, access to finance & debt capital markets and specialise in leveraging our global network. There’s lots more we can do to help beyond finance and transactional banking with recent projects including support with international student banking, student financial wellbeing courses and helping commercialisation teams and university spin outs open bank accounts.
Katharine Patel, Partner and Head of the Charity and Not-for-Profit team, Buzzacott LLP (patelk@buzzacott.co.uk)
At Buzzacott, it's not what we do, it's how we do it. As head of the Charity and Not-for-Profit team, I lead a group of over 100 specialist not-for-profit auditors, all of whom have chosen to specialise in the sector from the beginning of their careers. Buzzacott has proactively supported the Higher Education sector for over 30 years and understands the specialist support you require. Along with meticulous audit and assurance services, we provide support for your audit committees, governance training, risk management, and more to help you get the results you need. We also have in-house VAT, tax, and other business services specialists.
John Ramsay, Senior Director - Education, Santander (john.ramsay@santander.co.uk)
Santander is committed to helping people & businesses prosper, with a long-standing commitment to Higher Education. Since 1996 we’ve invested €2.2 billion globally in education, employability & entrepreneurship via Santander Universities Programme. In the UK, Santander have donated over £95 million since 2008 helping more than 117,000 students to help remove barriers to higher education, providing grants, scholarships and internships through 75 UK partner universities. My dedicated role delivers financial & banking services to education clients to fulfil their strategies & goals. Current hot topics: Cash & Liquidity Management, Local & Global Connectivity, and Cyber, Fraud & Sanctions challenges.
Victoria Goddard, Partner and Global Head of Universities and Higher Education, Pinsent Masons (victoria.goddard@pinsentmasons.com)
Victoria’s particular specialism is complex structures for student accommodation and other campus development projects, where her team are the lead advisor to universities. Under Victoria's leadership the team became Property Week’s, Student Accommodation, Professional Advisor of the Year 2020, 2021 and 2023. Victoria sits on the Business Advisory Board at the University of Huddersfield and the BPFs student accommodation committee. She is a trustee for Student Minds, the mental health charity for students and sits on UUKs taskforce on information sharing in the context of student mental health leading to the publication of ‘Suicide Safer Universities: Information Sharing Guidance’.
Dassos Alexandrou, Head of Education Sector, Barclays (dassos.alexandrou1@barclays.com)
Barclays is a long-term supporter of the Higher Education Sector, where we have relationships with 65% of UK universities, providing over £2bn of financial commitments. Barclays national network of education sector experts are passionate about delivering for all our clients and communities. We are particularly interested in talking to institutions about:
Sarah Seed, Partner, Mills & Reeve LLP (sarah.seed@mills-reeve.com)
Mills & Reeve have created a cross-disciplinary higher education financial resilience taskforce to help our clients navigate the unprecedented combination of financial headwinds. The taskforce:
Miranda Richards, Senior Investment Manager - Charities, LGT Wealth Management (miranda.richards@lgt.com)
We partner with a number of UK universities and education institutions to deliver segregated and bespoke investment solutions. We understand and are committed to the university sector and recognise its leadership in sustainable investing. We use insight from across the charity spectrum to inform our conversations. At the moment, these include:
Rebecca Dodd, Head of Higher Education Group, Mercer (rebecca.dodd@mercer.com)
As ever, pensions remains a really hot topic in the sector. The issues are changing and so are the solutions – but it still boils down to strategy, options and communications. Do chat to me about achieving the best outcomes for you and your people.
James Roberts, Chief Executive and Director, UMAL (james.roberts@umal.co.uk)
UMAL is a Discretionary Mutual, providing cover for Universities and Higher and Further Education Colleges and Institutions. Established in 1992, we offer tangible financial benefits to our 136 Members backed up by a fist class service from our team of industry experts.
We are well into the 2024 -2025 Renewal season with our Members and also engaged with multiple institutions with a view to joining UMAL from August 2024 – we would welcome the opportunity to talk to non-members about the UMAL model and discuss both the financial and non-financial benefits that attach.
Richard Lubbock, Client Director, LGIM (richard.lubbock@lgim.com)
At LGIM, we understand that Universities wish to integrate the need for long-term investment growth with strong corporate and social responsibility, high governance standards and cost-efficiency. We believe that we can offer Universities all of this and more with our dynamic range of investment solutions – from diversified cash products, to equity, bonds and alternatives, in varying investment styles. Our core strengths:
Stewart MacKinlay, Partner - Corporate Finance, EY (smackinlay@uk.ey.com)
I lead EY’s specialist debt advisory practice for Higher Education, and have had the privilege to work with over 40 universities, advising on over £4bn of finance exercises across debt raisings, balance sheet optimisation, financing strategy as well as advice and support on negotiating covenant amendments and restructurings. We are adept at lender negotiation, as well as stakeholder management, and have received excellent feedback on our advice and support. I very much look forward to seeing you at the conference.
Karen Best, Head of Education and Student Accommodation Lead Advisory, PwC LLP (karen.best@pwc.com)
I lead our team that supports HEIs in relation to:
I look forward to discussing these as well as the broader topic of financial sustainability with you. I am also happy to share how my team and our wider PwC Higher Education team are supporting HEIs and other industry stakeholders to respond to the challenges set out in our “Financial Sustainability of the UK Higher Education Sector” report that was commissioned by UUK and published in January 2024.
