1998
Company established
Sustainability
We take our responsibility for sustainability seriously and look for ways to continuously improve our impact as a business.
Reinventing the way
students live and learn
Trusted experts for the design, build, financing and operation of HE infrastructure
UPP was established in 1998 and is the UK’s only multi-discipline, full service Design, Build, Fund and Operate (DBFO) company that is dedicated to the Higher Education sector. As such we have the longest established and most trusted reputation for delivering next generation campuses at scale.
Every day, we support over 35,000 students on their journey through higher education, working with our university partners to create an amazing student experience.
And, like our university partners, we are committed to being a responsible business and work to ensure we have a positive impact on our people, our students and our environment, for the benefit of all.
UPP at a glance
15
Long term partnerships with world-class universities
£3.5bn +
Invested in the UK higher education sector
500,000 +
Students have made their home with us
35,000
Rooms that have become homes for students
99%-100%
Average occupancy level across the portfolio
1,000
Employees
£209.6m
Turnover
Building Futures
The purpose and the value of the UPP approach is that it allows our university partners to develop their estates whilst continuing to invest in other strategic projects, teaching, research and student experience. And our offering goes beyond accommodation: universities have worked with us to fund Student Union buildings, Lecture Halls, sports facilities and even science labs.
At UPP, we are collaborating with our university partners to reinvent the way that students live and learn through transforming the campus experience.
Elaine Hewitt, CEO
Celebrating our values
Community
We operate as one team and actively contribute to the development of all communities we work with.
Partnership
We build strong relationships as true partners, working collaboratively internally and externally to deliver value.
Innovation
We innovate to develop new and better solutions that make a positive difference for our partners and students.
“Our values describe our common beliefs – what is important to our business and our people”
Elaine Hewitt, Chief Executive Officer
Respect
We value, respect and appreciate difference, treating everyone as individuals and create opportunities for all.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Our people are at the heart of how we operate.
That’s why we believe everyone at UPP should be treated with respect, creating an environment where we feel valued, connected and a sense of belonging.
Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) is underpinned by our values. Valuing our differences is what makes UPP a growing success and an organisation we can all be proud of.
We recognise the value of having a diverse and inclusive culture, which reflects the communities we work with and has a positive impact on our people, our student residents, and our university partners.
Our Leadership
UPP’s executive leadership team brings together a wealth of expertise and experience across higher education and property from both the public and private sector.
UPP Foundation
The UPP Foundation was established in 2016 to support initiatives by universities and charities that directly support access to higher education and student employability.
Our History
1998
- UPP formed as the UK’s first Design, Build, Fund and Operate company for the higher education sector
- University of Plymouth partnership formed
2000
- Partnership with University of Reading is established, eventually leading to the first 125 year partnership in the HE sector in 2011
2003
- Lancaster University partnership formed, the then largest university accommodation project of over 4,000 rooms
2006
- UPP becomes the first PPP to deliver academic facilities with University of Plymouth
2007
- Partnership with the University of Kent established
2008
- Leeds Beckett partnership formed in 2005, with Carnegie Village awarded the UK’s first student accommodation Passivhaus award in 2008
2009
- Partnership formed with University of Exeter for 2,569 rooms on the Streatham Campus
2013
- UPP’s £5bn debut Bond is issued on Irish Stock Exchange with three tranches of nominal and index linked funding raised over an 18 month period
2014
- Partnership with the University of London is established leading to the development 1,711 rooms at Garden Halls and Eleanor Rosa House
2016
- UPP Foundation created to offer grants to universities, charities and other HE organisations
2017
- Partnership established with the University of Hull with the development of Westfield Court
2018
- UPP becomes the first partnership provider to convert to a REIT, listing on the International Stock Exchange
- Partnership formed with Swansea University
2019
- UPP, Swansea University and Navitas complete award winning second deal for 411 rooms on Bay Campus
- A further deal with partners at the University of Exeter is signed for a further 382 bedrooms on the Streatham Campus
2020
- UPP begin development of third transaction with University of Exeter at East Park on the University’s main campus
2021
- Delivery of the first phase of the Exeter East Park Residence scheme providing 604 high specification bedrooms in time for the new academic year
2022
- Delivery of the second phase of the Exeter East Park Residence scheme providing 578 high specification bedrooms in time for the 2022 academic year
2023
- UPP entered into a Collaboration Agreement with the multi-award winning sustainable architectural practice Architype to advance sustainable campus development with UK universities
- First annual sustainability report, Building Sustainable Futures, published in accordance with Global Reporting Initiative standards
Investor Centre
Investor information
Visit our Investor Hub for access to our latest annual reports, as well as resources including shareholder information, our share price and more.
