UPP’s genuine university partnerships have secured its position as a leading adviser to the HE sector. A strong communications strategy and collaborative research continue to support the company in its ambitious plans for the future.
Media Centre
28/11/2008 - UPP announces record year
University Partnerships Programme (UPP), the UK's leading provider of on-campus student accommodation, today announced its most successful year ever thanks to new university partnerships, record levels of funding to the university sector, award winning sustainable developments and over 99% occupancy across its portfolio.
In addition, UPP Group has undergone a strategic restructure that positions the company for its planned future growth. Supported by Barclays Capital, it is set to invest a further £1 billion into the higher education sector over the next few years.
Sean O'Shea has become group chief executive while Clive Crawford assumes the title of company founder. Andrew May has been appointed managing director of the UPP development company.
Sean O'Shea stated that the year 2007-2008 was highly significant in the growth of UPP, explaining:
"Following the restructuring of the company and the completion of six major transactions, we secured over £500 million in debt finance. It highlights that the higher education sector remains stable and very attractive to investors, despite the current economic climate."
UPP has also achieved over 99% occupancy across its 18,000 student rooms this year, demonstrating how high-quality student accommodation can help universities to attract more students in a highly competitive education market.
Sean O'Shea continues:
"The past year saw an increased UPP presence across the UK, with new partnerships at the University of Kent and Loughborough University. We have also opened two new regional offices, in Nottingham for the central region and in Leeds for the northern region.
This provides our clients with the confidence that comes from working with a major accommodation provider, combined with regionally-based teams that can offer local knowledge and experience."
2007-08 saw UPP deliver the first scalable template for eco-friendly student accommodation. Recognised with a BREEAM ‘excellent' rating at the University of Lancaster, the award winning model has since been rolled out at Kent and Leeds Metropolitan and now covers 2,000 rooms. The Lancaster scheme has also won the 2008 UK BREEAM Excellent Award for Multi-residential buildings.
Sean O'Shea concludes:
"With sustainability high on everyone's agenda, we believe that students should be setting an example of living in an environmentally-friendly way. Our Eco Residence model has been a real success. Now that more universities are signing up for sustainable accommodation, their students will reap the benefits and set the standard. Building on such a successful 12 months, I am confident that the company will see continued growth in both turnover and profitability this year."
Highlighting that UPP is on track to double the business by 2010, it has already secured one major partnership within the first month of the financial year 2008-09: UPP has been appointed as partner to the University of Exeter in the £150 million redevelopment of the latter's residential estate.
ENDS
For more information, please contact:
Ian Lindsley, Ben Russell, Fran O’Leary, Jefferson CommunicationsTel: +44 (0)20 7256 8912
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Notes to Editors University Partnerships Programme (UPP) is the trading name of the UPP Group of companies. It specialises in funding, developing and operating student accommodation schemes. It has invested almost £1 billion in the higher education sector and plans to invest a further £1 billion over the next two years.
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