Since 2016 we have been presenting awards at the annual BUFDG tax conference – as well as Lifetime Achievement awards, we present the Nigel Clothier award for special contributions to university tax. This award is presented to those who have made a special contribution to university tax – not just within their organisation but for the wider H E tax community. It is named in memory of Nigel Clothier, an HMRC Partial Exemption officer who worked with the higher education sector for a number of years, improving relations and being pragmatic and practical in his approach. Sadly, Nigel was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2015 and it was in 2016 that we introduced the award, and also awarded a Lifetime Achievement award to Nigel himself, which he received just a few weeks before he died.
Nigel was delighted at the proposal of naming the award after him and described himself as ‘flattered and honoured’. His manager contacted BUFDG after his death and said "The recognition from BUFDG was a real surprise for Nigel. He was honoured by the annual award being named after him. He was then delighted when the separate award for him personally arrived at his home. I spoke to him shortly after it arrived, and he said it had pride of place on the mantelpiece! It was a great kindness by BUFDG to give this personal recognition to Nigel and I am sure it is also helping his family at this difficult time."
We have continued the tradition of giving the Nigel Clothier award to those who go above and beyond to help the whole H E sector with tax in some way, as well as recognising those nearing retirement who have worked tirelessly for the sector throughout their careers with our Lifetime Achievement awards. You can read about previous recipients of the award below.
2022
Nigel Clothier Award for Special Contribution to University Tax
- Marie Christie (University of Liverpool): “Despite being one of the busiest people in payroll, she has still taken the time to read, comment and give feedback on a range of technical papers. For supporting BUFDG in her role as Northern Region PEG Chair and being a genuinely lovely person”
- David Miller (The Customs People): “Absolute life saver for the H E sector in terms of Customs info post Brexit”; “He has helped develop good quality guidance for the sector and helped steer us on the right path”; “He has been a great help advising on customs issues in the post Brexit dystopian universe”; “For taking a pragmatic approach and for translating Customs acronyms into a language that I can understand”
- Max Kompart (KPMG): VAT & research contracts guru, technically excellent, pragmatic, all-round great person and fun to work with.
Lifetime Achievement Award
- Deborah Damment (retiring as Group Tax Manager, University of Sheffield): “the most memorable thing she did was the amazing work with Jonathan Pearce on the first version of the corporation tax guidelines where she did an absolutely great job of getting a result for the sector that meant in most cases we wouldn’t pay tax…We really do owe a big debt to them both.”
- Peter Fielding (retiring as Deputy Director of Finance, Lancaster University): Peter has been a regular attendee of the BUFDG tax conference, usually making sure he brought a large contingent from his finance team, he made sure to respond to BUFDG’s requests for information from members on tax issues whenever he could. He also provided stalwart service to the Financial Reporting Group, including great work on the FRG’s training seminars, pulling together content and delivering materials. In fact, some of this would simply not have been possible without him. He is s a fantastic example of the kind of members BUFDG needs and is so lucky to have, as the organisation simply wouldn’t function/exist without them.
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2021
Nigel Clothier Award for Special Contribution to University Tax
- Sandra Cox (KPMG): Because she “genuinely cares about both the sector and the people working within the sector”; “[works] tirelessly to make HE tax a more understandable environment”; “is a pillar for HE tax [community]”; and “is a real thought leader when it comes to HEIs and tax - identifying issues before they bite”
- Chris Bridgeman (Kings College London): He is an active member of the SE Regional Tax Group, who is always willing to go the extra mile to help others in the sector. Andrea has appreciated the support he has shown, especially with regard to Brexit issues over the past year.
- Graham Gustard (University of Cambridge): Relatively new to the sector, he has thrown himself into the world of BUFDG, joining both as a PEG Chair, as well as a founder member of the International Forum. He is willing to put his head above the parapet for the benefit of the HE Sector.
- Phil Jukes (University of Oxford): One of the founder members of the International Forum, he is known for his expert knowledge in Global Mobility and is always willing to share that knowledge with others.
- Rebecca Seeley-Harris, Re: Legal Consulting: For providing the HE sector with years of expertise and support in employment status and for the support that she has provided to the BUFDG Tax Team – past and present
- Michael Stevenson (Payroll Manager at Queens University Belfast): He has recently stepped down as Chair of the London and the SE PEG Group and we would like to recognise and thank him for all of support. Julia has appreciated his support and sage counsel from the time she joined BUFDG.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Ian Short (Corporate Tax Senior Manager, KPMG): “I have worked with Ian for many years now - and assumed I would retire before he did! His strength is his direct, pragmatic approach to advice; he provides practical solutions based on a solid understanding of how universities work. This together with a dry sense of humour means he will be missed - something I don't often say about tax advisers!”; “a number of you have been kind enough to share memories of working with him I have only had the pleasure of working with this individual since working at BUFDG. Whenever I chat to him it is one of the highlights of my day. He is always upbeat. And on a personal note, I would really like to thank him for translating OECD policy papers into understandable English for me”.
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2020
Nigel Clothier Award for Special Contribution to University Tax
- BDO’s Employment Tax Team: For steadfastly standing in at short notice to host all of the PEG meetings across the country
- Amanda Darley (BUFDG): For the contribution she made to the sector as BUFDG’s Tax Specialist from March 2014 until March 2020
- Philip Hayes (then at Associate Director of Tax at the University of London): “He has made an invaluable contribution to the issue of the overseas tax and on-line learning, willingly sharing his knowledge, experience and expertise with colleagues”
- PwC’s Global Mobility Team: For initiating the successful international tax forms for BUFDG
- Rebecca Young (University of Southampton): Described as “a very active and helpful BUFDG member” and in recognition of the years she has been a valued member of the National Tax Group
Lifetime Achievement Award
John Hemming, formerly of the Wellcome Trust and former Chair of the Charity Tax Group:John has recently retired from the Wellcome Trust and as Chairman of the Charity Tax Group. BUFDG would like to recognise and thank John for the contribution he has made to the charity sector, including universities, during his career.
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2019
Nigel Clothier Award for Special Contribution to University Tax
- Carol Varns (University of Sheffield) & Neil Turner (University of Manchester): Because they are “always on hand to support us”; provide “technical contribution and enthusiastic energy”; are “very knowledgeable and have a wealth of experience ….to share”; and are “fonts of VAT knowledge!”
- Lizzy Conder (then Deputy FD, now Director of Finance and Planning at the University of London): For being hugely active in and supportive of the BUFDG tax group, during her time as Deputy Chair
- Caitriana Arnold (then Assistant Director of Finance at Cardiff University): For many, many (many) years' service as the Chair of the Welsh Tax Group, but she has finally been relieved of duty by a new chair
- Lesley Graham (PwC): For working so hard, both internally and with universities, to provide both a solution and a pricing package that would work for universities, with PwC’s GITC tool.
- Martin Scammell (independent advisor): For “his continued support of the sector” and his “unfailing ability to explain often ridiculously complicated rules in a straightforward manner”
- Ann Wilson Clark (then H&FE Sector Compliance Manager, HMRC): For her efforts at “helping to raise the profile and importance of an experienced in-house tax function within HEIs”
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2018
Nigel Clothier Award for Special Contribution to University Tax
- Elaine Barber (then Global Mobility Coordinator at the University of Sheffield): Because she is “relatively new to the sector but has come in looking at overseas employees, secondments, placements, etc - a new area - and is willing to share her experiences and how her role evolves.”
- Shona Blair (Direct Tax Manager at the University of Edinburgh): Another relative newcomer to the sector, “she has led the way on tax strategy and CFA/CCO and happily shared with counterparts in other universities, as well as providing great insights on IR35.” “She is a role model for her work ethic and everyday dedication to what she does”.
- Mike Edwards (who had just left his temporary contract as Employment Tax Specialist at BUFDG – the first one we ever had): “He's been extremely helpful over the last few months.” “He has provided additional specialised support for payroll and tax colleagues on all sorts of new and ongoing issues.”
- Roger Broughton (University of the West of England): Because he’s been the glue that holds the Southwest Tax Group and the Southwest Payroll and Expenses Group together for over 15 years, but has finally been relieved of duty by a new chair.
Lifetime Achievement Award
- Jonathan Pearce (who was retiring as Head of Tax from the University of Warwick): For helping to set up the original BUFDG Tax Group to help universities grapple with “bloody complicated” (his words) issues at a time when it wasn’t even clear whether a university should have a PESM; for working on the original CT Guidelines; and for assisting with many, many other HE sector tax projects.
- John Harrison (who was retiring as Chief Accountant of King’s College, London): For many years of assistance and service to those in tax in the H E sector, including serving on the BUFDG Tax Group, as well as contributing to numerous BUFDG projects over the years.
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2017
Nigel Clothier Award for Special Contribution to University Tax
- Andrea Marshall (then Tax and Insurance Manager at Worcester): Because she is “always available to help, shares her experiences with the group, thinks about tax issues that may be relevant to others - a good all-rounder and friend”
- Caroline Jones (then a Director at PwC): For setting up the BUFDG Payroll & Expenses Groups several years ago, always being supportive of BUFDG, providing training on IR35 to BUFDG members for free, and for helping BUFDG find our new Employment Tax Specialist
- Steve Carter (then CFO at Southampton Solent University): For being an excellent Chair of the Tax Group, continuing to assist the Tax Group after stepping down as Chair, and in particular helping with the overseas agents issue (and who retired later that year)
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2016
Nigel Clothier Award for Special Contribution to University Tax
- Kerry Sykes (then Head of Tax at Cambridge) & Harriet Latham (then Tax Manager at the Open University): For their “unstinting support of the education sector and help with BUFDG”
- Smith & Williamson: For bringing RDEC to the attention of the HE sector
- Alastair McClelland (then Tax Manager at Edinburgh): For having the bright idea of holding a university tax conference way back in 2004
Lifetime Achievement Award
Nigel Clothier, HMRC - an HMRC Partial Exemption officer who has worked with the higher education sector for a number of years: For helping forge better links between HMRC and the HE sector.
Nigel was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2015 and sadly died in August 2016. He was delighted at the proposal of naming an award after him, and described himself as “flattered and honoured”. Shortly after his death his manager told us "The recognition from BUFDG was a real surprise for Nigel. He was honoured by the annual award being named after him. He was then delighted when the separate award for him personally arrived at his home. I spoke to him shortly after it arrived, and he said it had pride of place on the mantelpiece! It was a great kindness by BUFDG to give this personal recognition to Nigel and I am sure it is also helping his family at this difficult time."
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