In this work, we have deployed geospatial analysis of public and open-source datasets to map the UK higher education sector for the first time.
What is the report about?
The report explores the data over four strategic themes for institutions and at sector level:
It is accompanied by a mapping tool which allows users to explore these questions for themselves.
The risks and opportunities that we have mapped are in dimensions of tens or hundreds of million pounds annually for the sector. They also point to how universities’ estates can contribute to environmental sustainability, and support their role as central players in regional systems, economies and development.
Anyone who is involved in running or making decisions around university estates may find this work interesting – including estates, sustainability, finance and risk professionals, strategic planners, and university leaders and governors.
Explore the insights with us
Join us at 11am on 22 January 2026 for a walkthrough of the report and mapping tool, followed by a panel discussion examining the work’s strategic insights for institutions and for the sector.
Panel members so far confirmed:
- Joel Arber: CEO, The SUMS Group (Chair)
- Nick Hillman OBE: Director, HEPI
- Thomas Owen-Smith: Principal Consultant, SUMS Consulting (report author)
- William Phillips: Data Analyst, SUMS Consulting (report author)
How SUMS can support you
SUMS is a membership, not-for-profit organisation and registered charity, owned by our member universities.
We’re here to support you to manage risks and seize opportunities, setting your institution up for resilience and success.
Our sector-leading consultancy services for universities and the higher education sector cover many of the topics explored in the report, including all areas of sustainability as well as risk, estates, local and regional partnership, strategy, planning and delivering change.
Our sustainability consulting services are delivered in partnership with EAUC, the sustainability champion for universities and colleges in the UK and the Republic of Ireland.
If you would like to discuss how we can support you around any of the areas in this report, feel free to reach out to us at consulting@sums.ac.uk.
