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University financial resilience

Universities are experiencing increasing economic headwinds in an environment which gives them little room for manoeuvre. Our cross-disciplinary taskforce is here to help.

Universities are facing an unprecedented combination of financial headwinds.

This creates the possibility that a registered provider may exit the higher education market in the next twelve months, which is leading to increased vigilance among lenders, pension funds and the Office for Students itself.

We've created a cross-disciplinary higher education financial resilience taskforce to help our clients navigate these headwinds. The taskforce will:

  • Help institutions manage their stakeholders – such as their regulators, lenders and pension schemes – in this challenging financial environment.

  • Be on hand to provide practical advice and solutions informed by the real-life experience of other institutions facing these challenges.

  • Help institutions address issues before they become critical.

The content below gives an insight into the work of the taskforce and offers some practical tips on managing these challenges. If you'd like a more in-depth discussion about financial resilience and what we are seeing on this in the sector, please contact Matthew Howling or Sarah Seed, or your usual Mills & Reeve contact.

What happens if a university became insolvent?

The financial challenges facing the higher education sector are well documented. What is less clear is what happens if this challenge becomes critical for an institution.

Financial failure in higher education

In collaboration with PwC UK, we discuss what could happen if an English University were to run out of cash and whether current insolvency legislation deals with such a scenario.

Wonkhe and Mills & Reeve - Connect more

This insightful session, filmed on Tuesday, 4 March, explores the need for greater efficiency in higher education and highlighted practical opportunities, barriers, and strategies to foster a more resilient and sustainable sector.
 
Hosted by Wonkhe editor Debbie McVitty, the webinar featured Poppy Short, Matthew Howling and Kate Newman from Mills & Reeve, James Rolfe from ARU, and Stephanie Harris from Universities UK. 

Recent news from the team

  • University merger completes to form major health powerhouse in London
    • The merger brings together two leading universities with complementary strengths to create City St George’s, University of London, one of the largest destinations for students in the capital and a major university powerhouse.
    Read more
  • Mills & Reeve advises Anglia Ruskin University on strategic merger
    • The strategic merger, which completed on 29 February 2024, is a landmark event in UK Higher Education and will secure a long-term sustainable future for one of the oldest specialist institutions in the UK.
    Read more
  • How an incoming government could act immediately to stabilise universities at risk of financial collapse
    • The new government needs to walk the line between allowing universities to collapse and pledging to protect them indefinitely. Sarah Seed and Matthew Howling discuss with Wonkhe.
    Read more

Meet our university financial resilience taskforce

Radical Collaboration report

Mills & Reeve and KPMG have released a practical playbook to help universities identify opportunities to collaborate with other organisations, reduce costs and improve operations.

Talking HEds vlogs

Watch our experts discuss topical issues facing the higher education sector.

Wonkhe's latest report

Wonkhe's latest report, in association with Mills & Reeve, considers how to create the conditions for a more resilient and sustainable higher education system in England.

Latest blogs