Thanks to our partners of 2026!
We are immensely grateful to our premium partners for the UHR Conference 2026, People Insight and Shakespeare Martineau, for their ongoing support for UHR, and for HR teams across the Higher Education sector generally. We look forward to virtually seeing them and our other sponsors at #UHR26.
We are independent specialists in workplace investigation and review, dispute resolution and related training, with considerable knowledge and experience of Higher Education. Founded in 2010, we have over the past sixteen years undertaken successful assignments in over 70 HEIs. Our team of experienced investigators/reviewers, dispute resolvers and trainers, with backgrounds in senior management, human resources, legal, finance and audit, are able quickly to understand your needs and deal confidently with the full range of complex and difficult employment relations issues. We pride ourselves on prompt and high-quality service, a systematic project approach to every assignment and our ability to be “thoughtful practitioners”.
Contact - Clive Bane, clive@b3sixty.co.uk, 07973878209
Bevan Brittan is a UK-Top 100 national law firm. Our team of specialist higher education lawyers work with universities and higher education Institutions, including members of the internationally renowned Russell Group as well as dynamic new universities and colleges. Many of our team have joined from in-house positions, which enables us to provide well informed, pragmatic legal solutions, whilst delivering excellent value for money.
Contact our award-winning teams for advice on all employment, HR, pensions, immigration, education law including (student disciplinary and academic misconduct processes), complaints and health and safety issues.
Contact - ashley.norman@bevanbrittan.com, tijen.ahmet@bevanbrittan.com, sheetal.gaur@bevanbrittan.com
Our team of dedicated and trusted higher education lawyers understand the globally competitive and challenging environment in which you operate and know you need pragmatic and practical solutions for your institution.
As an extension of your in-house legal and HR teams we will help you to make informed decisions and identify and manage risk. Our employment and HR services include (but are not limited to) recruitment, contractual and settlement agreements, immigration issues, pensions, employment training solutions and advocacy services. We can also provide you with practical resolutions to grievance, disciplinary, ill-health and performance-related matters.
In the ever-changing world of higher education, it’s more important than ever that you have access to specialist higher education legal advice that you can rely on.
Our team will work with you to help you make and take opportunities in the rapidly changing legal, regulatory and commercial landscape you operate in, both domestically and internationally. We’ll do this by providing genuine insight into current higher education law and a fresh perspective on the issues you face, as well as delivering client-focused solutions rather than technical answers to defined legal questions. We’re always looking to influence, innovate and challenge the status quo. We add value wherever we can.
Why Browne Jacobson?
Our clients choose us because of our sector expertise and intrinsic knowledge of higher education law, but they stay with us because of our exceptional service.
With bases in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Exeter, Cardiff, Dublin and our founding city of Nottingham, and links across the globe, Browne Jacobson is a national law firm with international reach. Our 500+ Lexcel and ISO accredited lawyers – including 140+ partners across six practices – are bound together by our shared values. We’re all dedicated to decency, simplicity and creative solutions – and we’re excited about what we can achieve together.
We’re known for giving practical advice, having strong market knowledge and being proactive and prepared to give ‘If I were you’ advice, please do contact us to discuss how we can help you.
Contact - Bettina.Rigg@brownejacobson.com
We’re the UK’s leader in shaping and defining reward in higher and further education.
As a not-for profit consortium of more than 130 universities and colleges, our HR expertise has helped to create fair, transparent and trusted pay structures for more than half a million people across 150,000 roles over the past 30 years.
ECC members have exclusive access to the very best tools available to help evaluate roles, determine pay and reward, and underpin reward strategy. Our Consultant team supports our members and clients with a wide range of initiatives:
Contact - contactus@ecc.ac.uk
Eversheds Sutherland LLP is an international law firm with 74 offices in 35 countries. Our Education Sector Group is ranked in band 1 in Legal 500 and Chambers Directories for both our education and our employment law expertise. We have a dedicated team of experienced education lawyers with a thorough understanding of the challenges faced by HE institutions locally, nationally and internationally.
We provide legal advice and support to HE institutions across the full range of their HR-related activities. This includes complex high value tribunal proceedings, organisational change, industrial relations, investigations, staff discipline and grievances, whistleblowing challenges, international staffing and collaborations, immigration issues, equality and diversity, fixed-term/hourly paid staff, health and safety, reputation management and HR-related governance and regulatory matters.
We are delighted to be supporting UHR with this year’s annual conference.
Contact - Nicola Bennison, NicolaBennison@eversheds-sutherland.com
Farrer & Co is synonymous with the highest quality legal advice and service. We steadfastly guide our clients through their most turbulent moments. We help them to deal with the things that matter most to them. We anticipate what may lie ahead for them.
We work alongside higher education institutions through major strategic projects, complex governance and constitutional changes, and sensitive safeguarding and employment issues. Our close relationships with some of the world’s leading universities, research institutes and business schools, give us a privileged insight into the evolving pressures on the sector, and a deep well of knowledge on which to draw when we are seeking the right solution for you.
We advise universities on complex (and standard) Employment Tribunal claims, High Court claims, academic and non-academic TUPE transfers, large and small-scale redundancies, senior terminations, sensitive investigations (e.g. alleged sexual harassment or whistleblowing), complex academic disciplinaries and appeals, staff and student safeguarding issues, trade union issues (whether collective consultation, industrial action or negotiations) as well as contract and policy reviews and pension issues. This diverse expertise combined with an intricate knowledge of how the education sector works means we can work quickly and proactively to resolve their issues.
Contact - enquiries@farrer.co.uk
Further information to follow.
INTOO UK & Ireland – Are specialist HR Services business focusing on Career Transition, Leadership Development and Change Management (specifically during restructuring).
We partner with HR Leaders to deliver a highly effective range of bespoke support, delivered both face-to face and leading edge technology, while managing projects on behalf of University HR teams.
Whether you’re looking to support career transitions also known as Outplacement, develop leadership skills, or drive organisational change, our services are designed to meet your unique University challenges and deliver real results.
INTOO are compassionate and place people at the heart of our services with a hi-touch, customised approach setting us apart. Supporting you and your employees at all levels, maintain morale, brand reputation and provide a value led solution to your University that is as personal as it is effective.
Contact - getintouch@intoo.com, 0808 164 2220
Isio's Higher Education team
Isio is a leading UK consultancy firm, bringing together sector insight and fresh thinking on pensions and wider reward to help our Higher Education clients, and university staff, maximise their reward and benefits strategy and make the right choices for them, without complexity.
Our dedicated Higher Education team advises over 40 universities offering expertise in Pensions, Investment, Benefits, Financial Wellbeing and Wealth, with an employee benefits platform to support people as they engage with their benefits. We are experts in USS, TPS, LGPS, SAUL, NHSPS, Defined Benefit Trusts and Defined Contribution pension schemes.
Whether implementing strategic changes or monitoring pension schemes and pay/ reward/benefits, our “finance, people, governance” framework ensures we deliver integrated advice, clear recommendations, and better outcomes.
How can we help you?
We live the ‘Isio Attitude’, promoting a progressive approach to create better outcomes for our clients, our people, and our society.
Click here to register for regular updates - Register
Contact - Sophie Ash, Director & Higher Education lead, 07900 053121 / 0121 227 3588, sophie.ash@isio.com, Sophie Ash | LinkedIn
With over 25 years of experience in recruitment advertising, jobs.ac.uk is the leading global job board for careers in research, science, academia, and professional services.
We combine our experience with the latest analytical data to create effective advertising solutions for your jobs. All adverts on our website are posted by a dedicated team member, providing a personal touch that sets us apart from our competitors.
Contact - UK and Ireland Email: enquiries@jobs.ac.uk International Email: global@jobs.ac.uk
Mercer’s Higher Education Group: Helping the university workforce thrive
University workforces are changing. From pensions to mental health to career paths, workers’ needs are evolving, and their employers need to evolve too.
There are myriad services, new approaches, investment strategies and benefits packages that universities might not have taken advantage of in the past. But what’s on offer is changing with the times as are the challenges and issues faced in the sector. We can support and help you to navigate these challenges, to look after your most important asset – your people – in a way that’s right for you and your university.
From considering pensions, financial education, engagement, wellbeing and attracting and retaining talent, our insight and experience is unrivalled:
Contact - rebecca.dodd@mercer.com
Mills & Reeve is a leading UK law firm and trusted legal adviser to over 130 universities, colleges, academies, and education-focused organisations across England and Wales. Our large team of specialist education lawyers provides expert support in employment, pensions, immigration, and more, delivering practical, sector-aware advice that works. We tailor our resourcing to ensure cost-effective solutions without compromising quality.
For over two decades, we’ve partnered with UHR to deliver workshops, legal briefings and strategic support to HR professionals across the sector. We’re proud to sponsor this year’s UHR conference and to be co-hosting a series of “Time to Transform” events with UHR, designed to help HR leaders navigate transformation and integration.
These events build on our recent launch of Radical Collaboration: A Playbook, developed with KPMG UK and commissioned by the Universities UK Transformation and Efficiency Taskforce. The Playbook offers timely, practical guidance for university leaders exploring new models of radical transformation. As financial pressures mount across higher education, Mills & Reeve is leading national conversations on financial resilience and organisational change. We’re uniquely positioned to help HR professionals apply this knowledge to workforce planning, acquisitions and strategic redesign.
We’re proud to hold Platinum Investors in People status, be named as one of the top law firms in the UK in RollOnFriday’s Best Law Firms to Work At List and recently reappointment to the £45 million LUPC legal panel. Our Band 1 ranking in legal directories reflects our deep and broad expertise across the education sector.
Useful links:
Click here for details of our Employment Rights Act 2025 hub and employment law blog and podcast series
Sign up to our education blog
Click here for details of and to sign up to our latest events
Click here for our recent webinar recordings
Click here for our university financial resilience information hub
Contact - alex.russell@mills-reeve.com, sian.jackson@mills-reeve.com
NTT DATA Business Solutions is a Global SAP Partner with a strategic focus in Higher Education. We help universities deliver the very best experiences for their employees and offer unrivalled knowledge of the challenges facing the higher education sector.
The SAP SuccessFactors Human Capital Management Suite, packaged for the Higher Education sector, enables universities to transform the way HR interacts with the wider institution. With new digital HR capabilities that introduce HR efficiencies and improve the everyday experience of your people, the university will be able to attract, develop, motivate, manage and engage talent.
Transform HR in Higher Education with AI-Powered SAP SuccessFactors
Discover more about SAP SuccessFactors for Higher Education
Contact - Carl Adams, Director of Marketing, carl.adams@nttdata.com
The Oracle Cloud offers a complete suite of integrated applications for Sales, Service, Marketing, Human Resources, Finance, Supply Chain, and Manufacturing, plus Highly Automated and Secure Oracle Cloud Infrastructure featuring the Oracle Autonomous Database. For more information about Oracle (NYSE: ORCL), please visit our website.
Contact - Leatham Green, Transformation Director, leatham.green@oracle.com
People Insight helps universities amplify the employee voice and turn feedback into meaningful action. We combine AI-driven technology with expert consultancy to deliver impactful staff surveys, 360 feedback programmes and much more. But gathering feedback is just the beginning. Our focus is on driving action and building your team's capacity to listen and respond effectively. With extensive experience in the higher education sector from working with 75+ universities, and over a third of Russell Group Universities, we provide robust benchmarks and tailored solutions, making us the leading employee experience partner for higher education institutions.
Contact - enquiry@peopleinsight.co.uk, 0203 142 6511
In these continuing challenging times for HR, we work with our HE clients to find solutions. Our group of specialists are always on hand to help navigate through an ever changing post-pandemic landscape. We provide practical sector-specific guidance on all matters employment related. We have expertise in the legal and cultural issues associated with Diversity & Inclusion, investigations, whistleblowing, industrial relations, pension and immigration matters. As we emerge in to a future world of work we are guiding our HE clients on remote and hybrid working, global mobility, health and safety, mental health and other related issues.
To sign up to our weekly Employment newsletter please click here
Contact - Helen.Corden@pinsentmasons.com, Rebecca.Stephen@pinsentmasons.com
At Reward Gateway | Edenred, our unified employee engagement hub provides the best of recognition, reward, wellbeing, surveys, benefits and discounts that support talent acquisition, retention and values-driven growth.
In the Higher Education sector, we currently support 36 UK universities to navigate cost pressures and organisational change while maintaining workforce motivation and performance.
Technology: Our SmartHub® technology enables integrated recognition, benefits, cost-of-living support, and wellbeing initiatives across faculties, departments, and professional services. Mobile accessibility ensures engagement for diverse staff, including international and remote employees. Analytics demonstrate ROI to CFOs and Councils, showing tangible cost savings, benefit adoption rates and engagement gains.
Proven outcomes: Our university clients report measurable improvements in retention, particularly in hard-to-fill professional services roles, higher engagement scores, cost savings through benefits rationalisation and widespread adoption of recognition and wellbeing programmes.
Partnership approach: We provide ongoing support and provide tailored interventions to support organisational change. Our approach aligns with public sector procurement processes and compliance with government-level security requirements, ensuring transparency for Council oversight.
Contact - info@rewardgateway.com, 0207 229 0349
With a long-standing involvement in and commitment to the education sector, our team have extensive experience across all legal issues that affect education institutions, guiding and supporting our clients through challenges and opportunities.
We have particular expertise of advising in the HE sector on HR issues. We pride ourselves on protecting and growing organisations. Our approach goes beyond just legal solutions: clients trust us to advise on what’s possible, what’s prudent and what’s coming around the corner.
Working with higher education institutions, our full-service team can advise on any legal issue that an institution may have. This includes regulatory and policy work, employment issues, student matters, governance and constitutional questions, partnerships and collaboration, disputes, large-scale capital projects, and estates master planning.
We are fully immersed in the education law sector, with a number of specialists working exclusively with our education clients. Combining the breadth of our expertise with the breadth of our client base, our team of specialist lawyers are in a position to advise clients every step of the way.
Contact - david.browne@shma.co.uk
Shoosmiths’ People & Reward team is one of the UK’s leading employment law, immigration, incentives, and pensions practices, with over 60 specialists delivering clear, commercial solutions. Higher education is a key sector for our team, with a proven track record of advising universities and HE institutions on sensitive and high-profile matters. We offer robust guidance on complex employment issues, high-profile investigations, and strategic ED&I initiatives.
Our sector experts bring multi-disciplinary insight, helping institutions manage regulatory scrutiny and reputational risk. As the HE sector undergoes significant transformation, we support institutions with hybrid working, organisational redesign, workforce mobility, immigration compliance, and ED&I strategies. We handle contentious employment matters and provide strategic HR input on restructures and change programmes.
Shoosmiths is known for excellent service, incisive thinking, and focusing on what matters. We empower our people to deliver in supportive teams committed to excellence and innovation, working with some of the world's most ambitious organisations.
Contact - Kate Dodsworth, kate.dodsworth@shoosmiths.com, 07874399175
Strengthify empowers HE leaders, managers, and teams using positive psychology and a strengths-based approach, enhancing engagement, performance, and wellbeing through workshops, training, and development programmes designed to support your needs.
Please get in touch, and we’ll be happy to arrange an initial conversation: https://www.strengthify.com/contact
TalentEdu provides executive search and tailored recruitment services designed around the needs of the higher education sector. With offices in the UK, US, Singapore and Dubai, we support universities with their recruitment needs both domestically and for overseas branch campuses.
We specialise in senior leadership roles, interim leadership, academic appointments and professional services. To do this, we offer a range of services that fit with the needs of universities. Whether an institution requires a full executive search, assistance with sourcing interims or a more flexible approach to recruiting one or more posts, we are able to provide creative recruitment solutions to meet those needs.
Contact – Mark Holleran, Managing Director, MHolleran@TalentEdu.com
Founded by the University of Warwick HR department in 1997, Unitemps is a university-owned, campus-based recruitment service which seeks to address the key challenges in higher education, such as employability, compliance and financial limitations.
With our heritage firmly grounded in the higher education sector, Unitemps is an innovative employment solution placing candidates from the university and wider community in temporary, permanent, graduate and internship roles within the university and local businesses. Specific HR benefits include:
Unitemps has branches at 19 universities across the UK and Unitemps’ largest branch has been successfully operating from within HR at UCL since 2018.
Contact - Andy Walker, andy.walker@warwick.ac.uk, 07824540731
Education organisations, particularly universities, operate within some of the most complex leadership environments in the UK. Balancing financial sustainability, governance, regulation, digital transformation and global competition for talent requires leadership that goes beyond academic excellence alone and is equipped to navigate sustained institutional change.
For over 40 years, Veredus has partnered with purpose-led educational institutions as a trusted adviser across the full talent lifecycle. We support senior academic, professional services and board-level appointments through executive search, interim management and leadership advisory, helping institutions align leadership capability with strategy and operating reality. Our work is underpinned by a research-led methodology and a 96% successful placement rate.
Equity, diversity and inclusion are integral to our approach. Through inclusive search design, evidence-based assessment and behavioural insight, we support fairer decision-making, reduce risk in senior appointments and help institutions strengthen leadership capability and representation at critical levels.
Contact - https://www.linkedin.com/veredus
With experience built up over 30 years, VWV's higher education practice has a national reach. We take immense pride in building long-lasting relationships with our HE clients, supporting them in the complex and ever-changing landscape in which they operate.
Our dedicated team of HE employment lawyers is recognised in the legal directories, with Legal 500 commenting that VWV "has an outstanding track record of excellence in the HE sector so is the "go to" firm for complex claims, particularly involving academic staff".
Our team provides specialist, tailored advice to suit the particular challenges and demands faced by higher education institutions in employment and HR related matters. We understand the HE environment and provide innovative, pragmatic solutions on everything from day-to-day queries to complex, sensitive, strategic issues, with a focus on helping clients understand and manage risk.
Contact - Jane Byford, Head of Higher Education, jbyford@vwv.co.uk
Weightmans is a top 40 UK law firm with more than 1,500 people working from our offices in Birmingham, Cardiff, Glasgow, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, London, Manchester and Newcastle. A leading national player in its client markets, Weightmans’ roots date back to the early 19th century. With 146 specialisms recognised and 453 experts listed in key legal directories, the firm offers a full spectrum of services.
We believe in the power of people, innovation and partnership to provide strategic business insight and deep expertise to a range of private companies, public sector organisations and individuals. At the heart of our culture and organisation is a simple purpose that informs everything we think, say and do: See the Possibility.
We believe thinking differently allows us to see the possibilities others don’t. Our dedicated Education team brings together specialist expertise to provide a complete solution both in the UK and overseas in increasingly important markets. We always take a bespoke approach, no assumptions, no one-size-fits-all, spending time to understand your issues and priorities, passing on best practice and insights and, most of all, personal engagement. That’s why we believe we provide unrivalled support and value for money.
