UPP is rising above the recent doom and gloom as it celebrates another spectacular year with occupancy levels of more than 99 per cent across its portfolio of university partners.
Media Centre
03/05/2012 - UPP raise £50k and win silver medals in The Prince’s Trust Arctic Adventure Challenge
UPP, the UK’s leading provider of student accommodation, campus infrastructure and residential services, has raised over £50,000 for The Prince’s Trust Arctic Adventure Challenge. The [6] six strong team competed in a series of challenges in the blistering cold; with temperatures reaching as cold as minus 20 degrees.
The team battled it out across events including: dog sledding, Nordic skiing, snowmobiling, team long-skiing and ice-fishing. After five days of surviving in the testing Arctic conditions, UPP’s Arctic Challenge returned with silver medals, and over £50,000 raised for The Prince’s Trust.
Becky Rawle, The Prince’s Trust Adventure Challenges Team, said:
“Team UPP were a fantastic group to have on the Challenge, not only because of their good humour and determination in the Arctic, but also because of their commitment and enthusiasm towards fundraising. The Prince’s Trust relies on the support of fundraisers like Team UPP, and their passion for The Trust has led them to raise a phenomenal amount of money, which will make a huge difference to disadvantaged young people across the UK”.
Duncan Palmer, Managing Director of URSL was impressed with the generosity of UPP’s friends, colleagues, and its supply chain: “We could not have made this trip happen without the generous help of our friends, the staff at UPP, and our supply chain. We have been overwhelmed by the response. Thank you to everyone that supported this incredible event”.
Marcus Adams, Transaction Manager from UPP, who took part in the Arctic Challenge, said:
“I am privileged to have been part of the team and to have visited such a beautiful place. It was an amazing experience that will stay with me forever.
“We had all been training hard for several months previous to the event, but I don’t think anything can prepare you for the cold temperature. Snowmobiling was harder than expected, as was the dog sledding; with Nordic skiing nearly claiming one of our team, as it was so exhausting. We all took on the team challenges each day with true determination and I’m so proud of our achievement.”
Youth charity The Prince's Trust helps change young lives. It gives practical and financial support, developing key workplace skills such as confidence and motivation. It works with 13to 30-year-olds who have struggled at school, have been in care, are long-term unemployed or have been in trouble with the law. Last year, more than three in four young peopled helped by The Prince’s Trust moved into work, education or training.
UPP is a Patron of The Prince’s Trust business group, The Construction and Business Services Leadership Group, which draws in private funding and provides opportunities for disadvantaged young people to gain hands on experience and training in industry.
ENDS
For more information, please contact:
Martha Dalton
Lodestone
07971138459
Notes to Editors:
1. UPP
University Partnerships Programme (UPP) is the trading name of UPP Group Holdings Ltd and its subsidiaries. It specialises in funding, developing and operating student accommodation and campus infrastructure schemes as well as delivering residential management services. It has invested £1.4 billion in the Higher Education sector and plans to invest a further £1 billion into UK universities.
www.upp-ltd.com
2. The Prince’s Trust
Youth charity The Prince's Trust helps change young lives. It gives practical and financial support, developing key workplace skills such as confidence and motivation. It works with 13- to 30-year-olds who have struggled at school, have been in care, are long-term unemployed or have been in trouble with the law. The Prince’s Trust has helped more than 650,000 young people since 1976 and supports 100 more each day. More than three in four young people The Trust helped last year moved into work, education or training. Further information about The Prince’s Trust is available at http://www.princes-trust.org.uk
03/05/2012 - The Prince’s Trust and UPP team up to help Plymouth’s young unemployed
UPP has teamed up with youth charity The Prince’s Trust to run a course designed to help unemployed young people into work. For the past two weeks, UPP and its university partner, Plymouth University, have hosted 13 unemployed 16 – 25 year olds on The Prince’s Trust ‘Get into Facilities Management’ course. The course has been really successful with one young person, Kieran Hobday, getting a job as a trainee cleaner for UPP, as a result.
During the course, participants from Plymouth and the surrounding area, gained experience in a range of facilities management roles, including reception duties, housekeeping, maintenance, and administration. Accredited training in cleaning, health and safety, customer service, fire safety and first aid were incorporated into the course, providing valuable and tangible skills for future work in the facilities management sector.
At the end of the course, participants gave presentations about their experiences at a celebration event. This is the third successful Get into FM programme run by UPP, which plans to run further courses this year across the country.
Following the successful completion of this course, the participants will be encouraged to apply for summer employment opportunities at UPP. They will also receive mentoring support from The Prince’s Trust to help them find a job. Last year, more than three in four young people helped by The Prince’s Trust moved into work or training.
Kieren Hobday, who now works as a trainee cleaner for UPP, said: “It's a fantastic opportunity for me and I'm really looking forward to putting into practice the skills I’ve learned over the 2 week "Get into FM" programme with UPP Plymouth. It's a great chance for me to better myself."
Jade Ives, who had a place on the Get Into Facilities Management programme, and attended the celebration event, said: “I enjoyed getting qualifications that I will be able to use for most jobs and careers I am interested in. I would like to thank UPP for taking time out of their work to aid my future development. The best part for me was working alongside some really great people.”
Nicki James, who also had a place on the programme, said: “I really enjoyed the work experience as I got to learn and work alongside the staff. I had such a great time learning all the new skills, it is a really top programme.”
Rick Libbey, regional director for The Prince’s Trust in the South West, said:
“The Get into Facilities Management course is a great example of how charities like The Prince’s Trust can work with local employers to help tackle youth unemployment. All of the young people taking part in the course received vital training and work experience to help them find a job and move forward in their lives. We are incredibly grateful to UPP for their support.”
Marian Hayes, Head of Estates and Facilities Management (Resources) at Plymouth University, said: “We always try to give our students the skills and support they need to get into a career which fulfils their ambitions, and are delighted to broaden that to benefit youngsters from Plymouth and right across the South West. This is a great example of the University working in partnership with other organisations to improve the lives of young people within the community.”
Sean O’Shea, Chief Executive of UPP, and Board member of The Prince’s Trust Construction and Business Services Group said: “Our long-standing partnership with The Prince’s Trust continues to provide more young people with the opportunities they need to build a career. At this time, it is especially important that we join up with the communities in which we work to provide training opportunities and to invest in our workforce of the future. We are delighted to be working with the Plymouth University on this programme, and would like to thank them for all their help and support.”
UPP is the leading provider of campus infrastructure, student accommodation and residential management services to the HE sector. Working in partnership with universities, UPP provides specialist residential management services, including facilities management.
Youth charity The Prince's Trust helps change young lives. It gives practical and financial support, developing key workplace skills such as confidence and motivation. It works with 13-to 30-year-olds who have struggled at school, have been in care, are long-term unemployed or have been in trouble with the law.
ENDS
For more information, please contact:
Martha Dalton
Lodestone
07971138459
Notes to Editors:
1. UPP
University Partnerships Programme (UPP) is the trading name of UPP Group Holdings Ltd and its subsidiaries. It specialises in funding, developing and operating student accommodation and campus infrastructure schemes as well as delivering residential management services. It has invested £1.4 billion in the Higher Education sector and plans to invest a further £1 billion into UK universities.
www.upp-ltd.com
2. The Prince’s Trust
Youth charity The Prince's Trust helps change young lives. It gives practical and financial support, developing key workplace skills such as confidence and motivation. It works with 13- to 30-year-olds who have struggled at school, have been in care, are long-term unemployed or have been in trouble with the law. The Prince’s Trust has helped more than 650,000 young people since 1976 and supports 100 more each day. More than three in four young people The Trust helped last year moved into work, education or training. Further information about The Prince’s Trust is available at http://www.princes-trust.org.uk or on 0800 842 842.
25/04/2012 - UPP respond to growing rent roll by strengthening Group Board with appointment of new Group Director
UPP, the leading provider of campus infrastructure, student accommodation and specialist residential services, has today announced the appointment of Sam Bailey-Watts to the UPP Group Board. This appointment – which involves the creation of a new Group Director position - reflects UPP’s strategy to maintain and strengthen its partnership approach across its growing portfolio. UPP’s fully built out forecasted rent roll is in excess of £113m, and Sam Bailey-Watts will head up the company’s drive to secure annual revenue and deliver operational best practice.
Sean O’Shea, Chief Executive of UPP, said: “I am delighted to welcome Sam Bailey-Watts to UPP’s Group Board. UPP has always recognised the need to understand the challenges and aspirations of our partners and Sam brings with him a wealth of experience from the HE sector and has an excellent track record of driving innovation and sector leading levels of occupancy across the UPP portfolio. Sam will play a crucial strategic role in maintaining and deepening the strong existing relationships that we enjoy, working with each university to deliver forecasted revenue as well as offering valuable advice to clients during a period of change.”
In addition to leading the Group’s Relationship Management and Business Standards strategy, Sam will continue to work closely with the Group Business Development Director to deliver new opportunities for UPP. He is also responsible for rent setting in consultation with partner institutions, and for marketing across the Group.
Sam Bailey-Watts of UPP, said: “I’m pleased to be joining the UPP Group Board at what is a time of radical change for the Higher Education sector and this role underlines the Group’s long term commitment to supporting our partners and to delivering high quality services to their students.”
Sam joined UPP in 2000 and was one of the leading figures in establishing and developing UPP Residential Services Ltd (URSL). He was appointed a Director of URSL in September 2008. Sam has a wealth of experience in the UK Higher Education sector, and prior to joining UPP, managed residences at the University of Nottingham and the University of London.
ENDS
For more information about UPP, please contact:
Martha Dalton
Lodestone
M: 07971138459
E:
Notes to Editors
UPP
University Partnerships Programme (UPP) is the trading name of UPP Group Holdings Ltd and its subsidiaries. It specialises in funding, developing and operating student accommodation and campus infrastructure schemes as well as delivering residential management services. To date it has invested £1.4 billion in the Higher Education sector and plans to invest a further £1 billion into UK universities over the next two to three years.
Key financials are as follows:
-Forecast built-out rent roll : £113 million
-UPP Group Turnover for financial year ending 2011/2012E: £85 million
-Occupancy across the UPP portfolio at start of 2011/2012 academic year: 99.8%
-Average occupancy since 1998: 99.5%
11/04/2012 - UPP Gets the Go-Ahead for renewal of Bridges Hall at the University of Reading’s Whiteknights Campus
UPP received unanimous approval from Wokingham Borough Council for the replacement of student residences at the University of Reading’s Whiteknight Campus. The scheme represents the final phase of the Whiteknights Campus student residences replacement plan, and responds to a demand from students for high quality, affordable accommodation on the site.
The scheme will provide a range of accommodation types to cater for different student requirements, including en-suite cluster flats, town houses, and economy cluster flats.
20/03/2012 - UPP Director of Strategy makes case for reinvesting savings into the student experience
Speaking at the Guardian’s Higher Education Summit The Future of Higher Education in London today, Jon Wakeford, Director of Strategy and Communications outlined the case for developing new revenue streams, finding savings and reinvesting them to enhance the student experience.
Speaking at the Summit, Jon Wakeford, said: “During a period where recurrent grant funding has been reduced, and where the sector is facing an ever greater element of competition between institutions, efficiencies are no longer a nice to have, they are a commercial necessity”.
14/02/2012 - £57.2 million transaction completed by UPP and Nottingham Trent University
UPP has successfully completed a £57.2 million transaction (£45.8m of senior debt provided by RBS; £11.3m sub-debt and equity procured by UPP) with Nottingham Trent University, strengthening their long-term partnership and providing high quality residential and non-residential accommodation for students. The deal demonstrates the level of confidence that the financial community has in UPP’s unique model, the University, and the Higher Education sector as a whole.
The scheme will create significant sports and social facilities for Nottingham Trent University students and staff, covering 5,500 square metres, excluding student living accommodation, and will create an iconic landmark at the Northern gateway of the University’s City site. New facilities will include a gym, music venue, retail space and health centre. The facility will also provide bespoke accommodation for the University’s Students Union, making its facilities among the best equipped in the country, in addition to 911 new student bedrooms. Construction is underway, with UPP’s construction partner Vinci Construction UK already on site.
UPP, the UK’s leading provider of campus infrastructure and residential management services, working in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, will handle the design, build and operations of the scheme. The site will be managed by UPP’s experienced residential services management team. This sustainable campus infrastructure project is UPP’s fifth project with Nottingham Trent University, where it now operates the vast majority of the student accommodation on-campus. The development is designed to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating, building on the University’s environmental commitment.
Nottingham Trent University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Neil Gorman, said: “The University is one of the largest providers of undergraduate education in the UK and one of the most popular in terms of applications received. This development, which is part of an ambitious regeneration programme, is extremely important in ensuring we continue to offer an inspiring environment for both students and staff.
“We have worked closely with the Students Union and other key stakeholders to identify the right ‘components’ for this redevelopment and believe it will create a defined ‘heart’ to the City site and will significantly add to the student experience. We are very much looking forward to the fruition of this scheme, which further signifies the commitment the University has to its students, its staff and to the wider local community.
Sean O’Shea, Chief Executive of UPP, said: “We’ve worked closely with Nottingham Trent University for a number of years on a number of projects, and we’re delighted to be delivering this exciting scheme that will make the University’s Student Union facilities amongst the best in the country. Following this transaction, we have invested over a third of a billion pounds into the Higher Education sector in the last 12 months. We are pleased to be driving important projects like this forward and providing significant private sector investment into the Higher Education sector.”
Vivek Sapra, Senior Director, Energy & Infrastructure RBS Structured Finance: “At a time when the University Accommodation Sector as a whole faces a number challenges, RBS is pleased to able to continue to support UPP in its long term partnership model. RBS has acted as Sole Mandated Lead Arranger for £45.8m of senior debt for the Nottingham Trent University City site secured against what we believe to be predictable long term revenue streams. We expect this sector to continue to remain an important investment opportunity in the future.”
UPP has invested a total of £1.4 billion into the HE sector and this deal further demonstrates the popularity of UPP’s long-term partnership approach. This partnership delivers multi-million pound investment into the Higher Education sector at a time when Government funding for university capital projects is being cut.
ENDS
For more information about UPP, please contact:
Martha Dalton
Lodestone
M: 07971138459
E:
Notes to Editors
1. UPP
University Partnerships Programme (UPP) is the trading name of UPP Group Holdings Ltd and its subsidiaries. It specialises in funding, developing and operating student accommodation and campus infrastructure schemes as well as delivering residential management services. It has invested £1.4 billion in the Higher Education sector and plans to invest a further £1 billion into UK universities.
www.upp-ltd.com
12/01/2012 - UPP named as signatory to the Deputy Prime Minster’s flagship policy
UPP has today been congratulated by Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, as one of the leading companies in opening their doors to young people from all walks of life.
The UK’s leading provider of student accommodation, campus infrastructure and residential services, UPP, has been named as one of the signatories to the Business Compact, the Deputy Prime Minister’s flagship scheme to create fairer opportunities to getting the best jobs.
Sean O’Shea, Chief Executive of UPP, said:
“At UPP we’re very aware that hardworking, talented young people can slip through the net, simply because of assumptions made about their background or social status."
“Businesses signing up to The Compact can help send a clear message to all of our young people; if a young person works hard, they should have an equal chance to fulfil their full potential."
“From a business perspective the UK cannot afford to waste its future talent and we at UPP are dedicated to ensure opportunities are open to all. Through our work with The Prince’s Trust and in committing to the ideals of the Compact we’re already seeing results”.
Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, said:
“This is an important step towards a society where it’s what you know, not who you know, that counts. Working with the Coalition, the biggest hitters in Britain’s business world are helping lead the way to a fairer, more open society.
“By opening their doors to young people from all walks of life, this marks the start of a culture shift at the heart of British business, driven by the belief that ability and drive should trump connections and privilege."
“I’d like to thank UPP for signing up to the Business Compact. Today’s success makes me even more ambitious. This great news is just the beginning – I will be doing everything I can to bring even more businesses on board.”
More than one hundred of Britain’s biggest companies and top professional groups have signed the Business Compact, committing them to making entry into their professions fairer.
The Business Compact forms a key part of the Deputy Prime Minister’s Social Mobility Strategy, launched in April 2011, which sets out the Government’s determination to ensure every individual is free to achieve, regardless of the circumstances of their birth. Businesses which sign up to it must agree to:
- support communities and schools through reading and mentoring schemes or encouraging their staff go out to schools and inspire pupils about their careers
- open opportunities to all young people by advertising their work experience places through schools, online and in other public forums, rather than just giving places to their mates
- make access to internships open and transparent, paying interns the National Minimum Wage where they are legally entitled to it and providing financial support to ensure fair access, such as providing expenses and/or accommodation to those from less advantaged backgrounds to ensure they are not prevented from accessing opportunities by their financial circumstances
- recruit fairly and without discrimination, ensuring that their recruitment processes don’t allow candidates to be inadvertently screened out because they went to the wrong school or come from a different ethnic group (including through using name-blank and school-blank applications where appropriate).
Sean O’Shea, Chief Executive of UPP, will attend a reception tonight held by The Deputy Prime Minister who will thank all of the businesses who have signed up to the Business Compact.
ENDS
For more information about UPP, please contact:
Martha Dalton
Lodestone
M: 07971138459
E:
For further detail about the Deputy Prime Minister’s work on the Business Compact, please visit:
http://www.dpm.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/businesscompact
Notes to Editors
1. UPP
University Partnerships Programme (UPP) is the trading name of UPP Group Holdings Ltd and its subsidiaries. It specialises in funding, developing and operating student accommodation and campus infrastructure schemes as well as delivering residential management services. It has invested £1.4 billion in the Higher Education sector and plans to invest a further £1 billion into UK universities.
www.upp-ltd.com
22/12/2011 - Plans submitted for renewal of Bridges Hall at the University of Reading’s Whiteknights Campus
UPP has submitted plans to replace student residences at the University of Reading’s Whiteknight Campus. These plans represent the final phase of the Whiteknights Campus student residences replacement plan, and respond to a demand from students for high quality, affordable accommodation on the site.
The plans, which include the renewal of Bridges Hall, have been put before Wokingham Borough Council for approval, following a consultation exercise with the local community, students and staff.
The scheme includes the replacement of an existing hall of residence, the provision of a new catering hub and ancillary accommodation, including a Junior Common Room social space, a new warden’s flat, and launderette and hall offices. The scheme aims to provide a range of accommodation types to cater for different student requirements, including en-suite cluster flats, town houses, and economy cluster flats.
The scheme has been designed with sustainability in mind and aims to achieve a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ standard for the residences. The redevelopment will incorporate a number of environmentally sustainable features, including roof top solar panels, energy efficient boilers and water heaters, energy metering facilities, and heat recovery ventilation systems.
Professor Tony Downes, Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Reading, said:
“The replacement of the old Bridges Hall with a high-quality development that will meet exacting environmental standards and deliver an excellent student experience will complete our ambitious project to make student accommodation at Reading second to none in the sector.”
Sean O’Shea, Chief Executive of UPP, said:
“Our proposals represent a clear vision to improve facilities and enhance the student experience. Working in close partnership with the University of Reading, we have created a sustainable, affordable student accommodation scheme that meets the demand from students for a high quality environment in which to study, live and relax. We look forward to taking our plans forward with our partners, the University of Reading.”
UPP recently completed a pioneering deal which will provide over £200 million investment for the University and see UPP operating a total of 4,321 rooms as well as managing the University accommodation office. UPP is the leading provider of campus infrastructure, student accommodation and residential management services to the HE sector. Working in partnership with universities, UPP provides specialist residential management services, including facilities management.
The completion of Bridges Hall will not add to the overall number of student bedrooms available to Reading students. The replacement halls programme has significantly updated the quality of student accommodation and concentrated University halls on the Whiteknights campus.
ENDS
For more information about UPP, please contact:
Martha Dalton
Lodestone
M: 07971138459
E:
Notes to Editors
1. UPP
University Partnerships Programme (UPP) is the trading name of UPP Group Holdings Ltd and its subsidiaries. It specialises in funding, developing and operating student accommodation and campus infrastructure schemes as well as delivering residential management services. It has invested £1.2 billion in the Higher Education sector and plans to invest a further £1 billion into UK universities.
http://www.upp-ltd.com
2. University of Reading
The University of Reading is rated as one of the top 200 universities in the world (THE World Rankings 2011). The University is one of the UK’s top research- intensive universities and is ranked in the top 20 UK higher education institutions in success rates for securing research council grants worth nearly £10 million from UK Research Councils.In the RAE 2008, over 87% of the university’s research was deemed to be of international standing. Areas of particular research strength recognised include meteorology and climate change, typography and graphic design, archaeology, philosophy, food biosciences, construction management, real estate and planning, as well as law. Standards of teaching and the student experience are excellent - the University scored highly in the National Student Survey 2011. 89% of Reading students responding to the survey stated they were satisfied with the quality of their course.
Media enquiries about the University of Reading from Alex Brannen, Director of Communications, on 0118 378 8005,
3. The scheme is located on the University of Reading’s Whiteknights Campus. The campus is south of Reading town centre.
There are 649 student rooms organised between three types of accommodation: premium rooms are en-suite and organised within 8 room cluster flats, standard rooms are non-ensuite bedrooms with shared bathrooms arranged in 12 person town houses, and economy rooms are non-ensuite rooms arranged in 10 person cluster flats. The proposals are for 63 premium rooms, 192 standard rooms, and 394 economy rooms. All accomodation is four storeys in height.
Other facilities will include: a new cafe bar and shop, , launderette, covered bicycle stores, a Junior Common Room, a new warden’s flat, student reception and office suite.
The scheme is targeted to achieve a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating for the residential development.
22/12/2011 - £230 million transaction completed by UPP and the University of Reading
UPP has successfully completed a £230.1m transaction (£186.5m of senior debt provided by AVIVA; sub-debt and equity procured by UPP) with the University of Reading establishing a 125 year partnership for the entire university residential estate. The deal, which during 2012 will involve an investment of almost a quarter of a billion pounds, is the single largest private investment into a UK university residential estate to date and represents the first large scale investment from AVIVA Commercial Finance into the Higher Education sector. This deal highlights the confidence felt by institutional investors in the University of Reading, UPP’s unique model and the Higher Education sector in general.
The pioneering deal will provide over £230.1 million investment for the University and will see UPP operating a total of 4,321 rooms for the University as well as managing the University accommodation office. The University of Reading will become the first UK University to develop a long–term partnership with the private sector for its entire on-campus student accommodation estate. The transaction, the result of a competitive bidding process, will also generate a capital receipt for the University of Reading for investment in the provision of its core teaching and research functions.
UPP, the UK’s leading provider of campus infrastructure and residential management services, will transfer and operate a total of 2,610 rooms, in addition to its 816 rooms of existing accommodation at The University of Reading, as well as a further 895 rooms presently under construction for 2012/13. UPP will also develop a further 649 new rooms, which will complete the current Whiteknights Campus accommodation project. UPP will be providing hard and soft facilities management services across this portfolio, with the University retaining responsibility for student welfare and pastoral matters, grounds maintenance, security and IT, as well as running catering throughout the University including in halls and bars.
The University of Reading is ranked as one of the UK’s most research-intensive universities and as one of the top 200 universities in the world. UPP’s partnership with the University of Reading dates back to 2000 and, with this new transaction now complete, UPP has invested almost quarter of a billion into the University at a time when Government funding for university capital projects is being cut. The new developments will provide the University’s students with additional affordable, high quality accommodation, which will further improve the student experience.
Professor Tony Downes, Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Reading, said: “The University of Reading has been working with UPP for over a decade and we are delighted that this relationship will now extend to managing the University’s entire on-campus student accommodation. Our accommodation provision plays a huge part in our on-going success in providing a high quality student experience at Reading. By working with the leading professional managers of student accommodation in the UK higher education sector, we can look forward to continued success in providing a class of accommodation that attracts the brightest and best students to the University. Importantly for the University of Reading, at a time when the funding model for higher education is undergoing a radical change, this deal will allow us to concentrate our investment in research and teaching facilities while continuing to provide our students with high-quality accommodation.”
Sean O’Shea, Chief Executive of UPP, said:
“The scale of this transaction shows that the Higher Education sector is out-performing the market – and is increasingly seen as an attractive investment opportunity, providing consistently robust income streams. We’ve been working hard to attract new types of investors into this market, particularly investors with long term strategies such as pension funds that we see as a strategic fit for this sector. This deal shows that despite the financial climate, the financial community has a growing appetite for this kind of investment opportunity, delivered through UPP’s unique model. We work in partnership with universities to provide high-quality accommodation, campus infrastructure and specialist asset management solutions and, we’re delighted to be working with such a forward looking university as the University of Reading – with its strong strategy and clear vision for the future.”
Kevin Sale, Commercial Finance Director at Aviva, said:
“We are really pleased to have been able to extend our lending to the student accommodation sector on this project. We are happy to be involved in this significant upgrade of the accommodation facilities working with such a well regarded University as Reading and an experienced campus management service company in UPP. Aviva Commercial Finance provide long term, fixed rate debt across a number of sectors and whilst we have an appetite to fund further schemes of this type, these will be on a limited and selective basis.”
ENDS
For more information about UPP, please contact:
Martha Dalton
Lodestone
M: 07971138459
E:
University of Reading: Alex Brannen, 0118 378 8005,
Notes to Editors
1. UPP
University Partnerships Programme (UPP) is the trading name of UPP Group Holdings Ltd and its subsidiaries. It specialises in funding, developing and operating student accommodation and campus infrastructure schemes as well as delivering residential management services. It has invested £1.4 billion in the Higher Education sector and plans to invest a further £1 billion into UK universities.
www.upp-ltd.com
3. The University of Reading is rated as one of the top 200 universities in the world (QS World Rankings 2011). The University is one of the UK’s top research-intensive universities and is ranked in the top 20 UK higher education institutions in securing research grants worth over £10 million from UK Research Councils. In the RAE 2008, over 87% of the university’s research was deemed to be of international standing. Standards of teaching and the student experience are excellent - the University scored highly in the National Student Survey 2011. 89% of Reading students responding to the survey stated they were satisfied with the quality of their course putting the University in the UK top 20 for student satisfaction levels. The University opened nearly 900 new student bedrooms in Mackinder and Stenton Halls on the main Whiteknights Campus in 2010. 898 rooms are currently under construction in Childs Hall and will open for the 2012/13 academic year.
4. The new deal with the University of Reading will deliver:
- An investment of £230 million into the university
- The transfer of all 4,321 student rooms on campus to UPP by academic year 2012-13
- (Academic year 2011-2012): estate transfer of 2,610 rooms
- UPP transferring a further 895 rooms currently under construction on the campus for the academic year 2012-2013
- UPP building new 649 room student accommodation scheme and catering hub
- UPP operating the campus accommodation office
- UPP providing all hard and soft facilities management services
- Rooms will be provided for staff and pastoral care staff at a subsidised rate or for free in some instances
- Lifecycle costs – such as refurbishment and upkeep – will be included in the deal, taking these ‘sunk’ costs away from the university
- The deal involves a 125 year concession period and an extension to the existing partnership
26/10/2011 - Celebrating the University’s first Chancellor at Benyon Hall naming ceremony
University Partnerships Programme (UPP) in partnership with the University of Reading has today (26 October) announced the renaming of Reading Student Village as Benyon Hall, to commemorate the University’s first Chancellor, James Herbert Benyon. As part of the scheme, UPP and construction partner Mansell has developed a new student reception and Junior Common Room (JCR), which will provide students with their own communal space onsite.
Construction of the new JCR and student reception began in June 2011 and has been completed in time for the start of the new academic term. UPP has invested £500,000 in developing the new building, as well as rebranding Benyon Hall. The student reception and JCR have been designed with sustainability in mind, and will be tested using the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM). The target is to achieve a “Very Good” rating.
Professor Tony Downes, Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Reading, said: "Prospective students, more than ever, are looking to get the best quality student experience, and excellent accommodation is right at the top of that wish list. We are delighted that UPP has invested significantly in the accommodation they provide for Reading students and that its new name reflects our earliest days as a University."
Sean O’Shea, Chief Executive of UPP, said: "We’re delighted to be opening these new facilities for students at the University of Reading, which we hope they enjoy. It’s fantastic to commemorate the University’s first Chancellor in this way, and we’re pleased to be involved in today’s opening ceremony. It’s a pleasure to be strengthening our relationship with such as prestigious university, and we look forward to our working together over the coming years."
UPP currently operates 815 rooms at the University of Reading. UPP is the leading provider of campus infrastructure, student accommodation and residential management services to the HE sector. Working in partnership with universities, UPP provides specialist residential management services, including facilities management.
ENDS
For more information about UPP, please contact:
Martha Dalton
Lodestone
M: 07971138459
E:
Notes to Editors
1. UPP
University Partnerships Programme (UPP) is the trading name of UPP Group Holdings Ltd and its subsidiaries. It specialises in funding, developing and operating student accommodation and campus infrastructure schemes as well as delivering residential management services. It has invested £1.2 billion in the Higher Education sector and plans to invest a further £1 billion into UK universities. http://www.upp-ltd.com
2. The University of Reading is rated as one of the top 200 universities in the world (THE World Rankings 2011). The University is one of the UK’s top research-intensive universities and is ranked in the top 20 UK higher education institutions in success rates for securing research council grants worth nearly £10 million from UK Research Councils.
In the RAE 2008, over 87% of the university’s research was deemed to be of international standing. Areas of particular research strength recognised include meteorology and climate change, typography and graphic design, archaeology, philosophy, food biosciences, construction management, real estate and planning, as well as law.
Standards of teaching and the student experience are excellent - the University scored highly in the National Student Survey 2011. 89% of Reading students responding to the survey stated they were satisfied with the quality of their course.
More information at http://www.reading.ac.uk