Our annual report 2025: The ultimate balancing act, cutting costs vs driving growth

As universities continue to face significant pressures on a range of fronts, the support they need is more pressing and wide-ranging than ever.

At SUMS we’re rising to that challenge, now working with more universities and on programmes and projects of a greater scale. In the last five years our membership has more than doubled and our consultancy business has grown significantly. We’re also trusted by national bodies, such as the Office for Students and the Higher Education Authority of Ireland, to carry out sector-wide assignments.

This year we’re making it easier for our members to find the best support for their situation by presenting our services within four hubs: supporting higher education; strategy and transformation; service excellence; and delivering change.

In keeping with this approach we’re sharing our annual report with you through a series of focused instalments, allowing you to engage with specific themes and examples most relevant to your institution’s priorities. For each hub you can read about how we use our unique understanding of the sector today to offer services which support our members to navigate challenges and excel. Through case-studies and examples, you’ll see the difference our consultancy support is already making.