Nick joined SUMS in January 2026 from Etio (a division of Tribal), where he led the Performance Benchmarking business, which specialised in helping universities drive world-class financial performance and student experience through evidence and comparative insights. He has worked with universities and colleges both in the UK and worldwide, and has spoken at conferences globally.
He is looking forward to helping members and clients by leveraging approach to comparative data analysis and insight to enhance the SUMS proposition. His approach to assignments is straightforward, clear, and client-centred; he always applies his overarching principle “be nice and keep your promises”, and it hasn’t failed him yet.
Nick delivered an epic stint of nearly 23 years with Tribal’s Performance Benchmarking business, rising from Junior Consultant to Director. His and his team’s work was characterised by a collaborative, partnership working approach – designed to maximise stakeholder buy-in to the project work, and deliver genuine insight to help institutions. Through a “productised” consultancy approach, Nick and his team helped universities and colleges (a) find out what their students think, and (b) organise their finances to improve student outcomes and the student experience. In late 2024, Nick was excited to co-chair a Parliamentary round table on university efficiencies with Vivienne Stern and Adam Thompson MP.
How has Nick supported universities?
Nick has worked with universities in the UK and worldwide, delivering insight through student surveys and financial benchmarking, including:
- oversight and management of the International Student Barometer student experience survey, the world’s largest annual survey of enrolled international students.
- Coimbra Group Global Education Profiler survey, assessing levels of internationalisation competency for students and staff at Coimbra Group universities including Durham, Poitiers, Tartu, KU Leuven.
- countless financial benchmarking analyses at UK universities of all shapes and sizes, including University of Nottingham, Cardiff University, Durham University, University of Leicester, Sheffield Hallam University, Aberystwyth University, University of the Arts London, Ravensbourne.
- oversight of the New Zealand benchmarking tool, delivered annually since 2007 to all universities and colleges in NZ.
Outside of work Nick will be found feeding his addiction to running shoes, and signing up to yet another marathon to justify it. He may also be spied “enjoying” the continued misadventures of Notts County FC, sneaking a cuddle with his new kittens, or ferrying his daughters to their endless schedule of extra-curricular activities.