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.
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03/06/2011 - Young people in Nottingham ‘Get into Construction’
UPP, VINCI Construction UK, Stephenson College and Nottingham Trent University have been host to 15 young people on The Prince’s Trust ‘Get into Construction’ programme.
The aim of the programme is to give unemployed 18-25 year olds experience of working on a construction site and the opportunity to learn about careers and prospects within the industry, including potential job opportunities and apprenticeships. This is the second training programme that the Prince’s Trust has been able to offer at Nottingham Trent University thanks to UPP, who are sponsoring the training programme.
On the course, there were 15 young people who had hands on work experience with VINCI Construction UK and subcontractors, Imtech, on the student accommodation site at Nottingham Trent University’s Clifton Campus. Trades that have been experienced are plastering, carpentry, cladding, painting and decorating and bricklaying. At the end of the 4 week period the students will all be giving presentations about their experiences at a celebration event on Friday 3 June.
Whilst on site the young people have also undertaken training and development courses which have included presentation and interview skills, a CITB site safety awareness course, with students having completed site inductions and taken their CSCS (Construction Skills Certificate Scheme) test, which gives them their ‘passport’ to working on a construction site and a requirement for a career in the industry.
John O’Reilly, regional director for The Prince’s Trust in the East Midlands, said: “The Prince’s Trust Get into Construction course gives young people intensive training, work experience and qualifications in the construction industry to help them into a job. With youth unemployment continuing to reach record highs, is it imperative that charities, businesses and government bodies work together in order to provide our city’s young people with the support they need – and deserve – to move into the workplace.”
Nigel Jones from Nottingham Trent University, said: "We're very proud to have been part of the opportunity to support these young people in developing lifelong skills and career aspirations. The university wishes all of the participants the very best of luck, and we look forward to seeing how this fantastic project helps them to secure a more rewarding future."
Sean O’Shea, UPP Chief Executive, said: “As the leading provider of student accommodation and campus infrastructure, UPP is committed to providing training opportunities for young people at our sites, and across our wider business. Like our university partners investing in the communities in which we work is central to our values. Through our partnership with the Prince’s Trust we are helping young people to gain the experience they need to realise their potential, get a job, and get on in life.”
Keith Shivers, VINCI Construction UK Regional Director, Building Division, said: ‘VINCI Construction UK will be bringing all the experience and know-how we have gained, working extensively in the student accommodation sector across the UK, to the Clifton campus project. VINCI Construction UK is the first company to partner simultaneously with the Prince’s Trust, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and The Construction Youth Trust and we are delighted to have been given the opportunity to provide four weeks of training and experience for the 15 apprentices on the Get into Construction course.”
ENDS
Fran O’Leary, Ian Lindsley or Martha Dalton,
Jefferson Communications
Tel: +44 (0)20 7256 8912
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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
02/04/2011 - University of Reading selects UPP for pioneering £200m campus deal
UPP has today been selected as preferred bidder to deliver a groundbreaking estate transfer and redevelopment deal with the University of Reading – the single largest private sector residential investment into a UK university to date. The pioneering deal will provide over £200 million investment for the University and will see UPP operating a total of 4,170 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.
UPP, the UK’s leading provider of campus infrastructure and residential management services, will, subject to successful completion of contract, deliver the transaction which has a total funding requirement of over £200 million later this year. UPP will take over the operation of 2,623 rooms of existing accommodation for the academic term 2011/12, followed by a further 898 rooms presently under construction for 2012/13. UPP will also develop a further 650 new rooms, which will complete the current Whiteknights accommodation project. UPP will be providing all hard and soft facilities management services across this portfolio, with the University retaining responsibility for student welfare and pastoral matters, grounds maintenance, security, IT and reactive maintenance, 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, once this new transaction is completed, UPP will have 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.
David Savage, Director of Finance and Corporate Services at the University of Reading, said: “Throughout this process, we have focused on identifying a partner who can deliver the continuing high standards for which our student accommodation is known. We are currently working towards final contract agreement with UPP and look forward to a productive relationship that will add value to the Reading student experience. In difficult funding times for higher education, UPP’s partnership with the University will free up our capacity to invest in, and improve, our research and teaching facilities across the University and enhance the student experience.”
Sean O’Shea, Chief Executive of UPP, said: “We’re delighted that the University of Reading has chosen to widen and deepen its relationship with UPP. Having worked in partnership with the University for over a decade, we’re proud to have been awarded the chance to support the University in delivering its vision for residential provision across the campus. We’re pleased to be providing a solution which brings private sector investment into the HE sector and will enhance the student experience.”
ENDS
For more information, please contact:
Fran O’Leary, Ian Lindsley or Martha Dalton,
Jefferson Communications
Tel: +44 (0)20 7256 8912
Email:
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 (QS World Rankings 2010). 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 2010. 88% 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
Media enquiries about the University of Reading from Alex Brannen, Director of Communications, on 0118 378 8005,
3.The new deal with the University of Reading will deliver:
- An investment of over £200 million into the university
- The transfer of all 4,170 student rooms on campus to UPP by academic year 2012-13 (Academic year 2011-2012): estate transfer of 2,623 rooms
- UPP transferring a further 898 rooms currently under construction on the campus for the academic year 2012-2013
- UPP building new c. 650 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
11/03/2011 - UPP head office move
UPP have announced that it will be moving its head office from its current location in Holborn. From Monday 14 March 2011, the new address will be:
40 Gracechurch Street
London
EC3V 0BT
19/02/2011 - Chief Executive profiled in The Times
UPP’s Chief Executive, Sean O’Shea was profiled in The Times discussing his passion for the UK’s higher education sector. He said: “This country has world-class higher education and we must keep hold of that. It has to be adequately financed and, with the deterioration in public funding, we are well positioned to provide private sector funding into that sector.” He went on to discuss UPP’s model and bridging the funding gap: “Affordability is always a key driver for us. We don’t want students who are unable to pay the rents. We can help [the HE sector], as this sector is attracting different investors, such as pension funds, looking for long and predictable income streams.”
The Times
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/
10/02/2011 - UPP and The Prince’s Trust get young people into construction
UPP’s partnership with The Prince’s Trust has enabled unemployed young people the chance to get hands on experience in the construction industry. For the second year running, UPP partnered with The Prince’s Trust, the University of Exeter and construction partners, Cowlin to host a ‘Get into Construction’ scheme. This year 14 young people worked on-site at two of UPP's student accommodation sites, which form part of the university's £275 million investment programme. Sean O'Shea, Chief Executive of UPP, said: "We are committed to providing training opportunities and investing in the local communities within which our partners operate. Through this partnership we are helping young people to access valuable skills and build a career in construction."
Click here to read the article in full:
http://www.thisisexeter.co.uk/news/Young-jobless-given-opportunity-build-future/article-3206136-detail/article.html
01/12/2010 - Chief Executive speaks of long-term funding solutions
In an interview with Education Investor, UPP’s Chief Executive commented on UPP’s long term funding solutions and the role of private sector investment into HE. He said: “The reductions in departmental spending have focussed attention on long-term funding solutions. Universities will need to generate significant new revenues and operational savings to help offset the [funding] shortfall.”
01/12/2010 - Chief Executive comments on private sector investment
Sean O’Shea, Chief Executive of UPP, spoke to University Business about private sector investment in the HE sector. He said: “Engaging in partnerships with private sector organisations, such as UPP, enables universities to access alternative sources of funding, which are becoming increasingly important at this time. UPP’s long-term partnerships have resulted in £1.1 billion investment into the sector and have provided more that 20,000 affordable student bedrooms on-campus, teaching infrastructure, estate transfers and residential management services.
01/11/2010 - £24 Million Transaction Completed by UPP & University of Kent
UPP has successfully completed a £24.0 million transaction (£20.3m of senior debt provided by The Royal Bank of Scotland “RBS”) with the University of Kent, strengthening their long-term partnership and providing high quality on-campus accommodation for students. This deal, which will inject investment into the University at a time of Government spending cuts, 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.
As the UK’s leading provider of campus infrastructure and asset management services, UPP will fund, design, develop and operate the new 495 room scheme. Planning permission has already been secured and construction is underway, with UPP’s construction partner Mansell already on site at the University’s Canterbury campus. The project incorporates innovative environmental measures, following UPP’s award winning Eco Residence model of sustainable development. Construction is scheduled for completion in September 2011 and then UPP Residential Services Ltd (“URSL”), UPP’s residential management arm, will operate the new student accommodation and deliver bespoke hard facilities management services. The scheme will provide students with new affordable accommodation, which will help to further enhance the student experience.
The project is UPP’s second development at Kent, where UPP has previously delivered a lecture theatre, student accommodation and teaching and conference facilities. UPP has now invested over £50 million into the University of Kent since their partnership began in 2008. Overall, UPP has now invested over £1.1 billion into the UK Higher Education sector since its inception.
Professor Keith Mander, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Kent, said: “The University of Kent welcomes UPP as its partner for a further residential development, which will enhance Keynes College – one of Kent’s original colleges. The development will allow the University to accommodate more of its students in high quality accommodation close to the heart of our Canterbury campus.”
Sean O’Shea, Chief Executive of UPP, said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with such a prestigious institution as the University of Kent on this exciting scheme, which will help to further enhance the student experience. Following this transaction, we have now invested almost a third of a billion pounds into the Higher Education sector in the last twelve months. We are pleased to be providing significant private sector investment to universities at this time, helping to drive important projects like this forward.”
Vivek Sapra, a Senior Director in RBS’s Structured Finance Infrastructure team, said: "Projects like this one are particularly important given the rising number of students attending universities across the UK. The Canterbury development will deliver first-class facilities for students of the University of Kent within the next year. Having worked with UPP previously on similar student accommodation projects, we were delighted to facilitate this new development by providing senior debt funding. We look forward to seeing the scheme take shape and to working with UPP again in the future."
The scheme will help to address the increasing demand for places at the University, which saw a 20% rise in applications during 2009, and now has some 19,000 students from 140 countries. UPP’s partnership with the University of Kent began in 2008 and the University is now one of the highest scoring universities, in terms of student satisfaction, in The Times Good University Guide and amongst the leading universities in the UK.
ENDS
For more information, please contact:
Fran O’Leary, Ian Lindsley or Martha Dalton,
Jefferson Communications
Tel: +44 (0)20 7256 8912
Email:
Media Office at the University of Kent
Tel: 01227 823581/823100
Email:
News releases can also be found at http://www.kent.ac.uk/news
University of Kent on Twitter: http://twitter.com/UniKent
University of Kent Blogs: https://blogs.kent.ac.uk/
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 asset management services. It has invested over £1.1 billion in the Higher Education sector and plans to invest a further £1 billion into universities.
http://www.upp-ltd.com
2.The University of Kent, the UK’s European university, was the first institution within the county to be granted a university charter. It has 19,000 students studying at Canterbury, Medway, Tonbridge, Brussels and Paris. It is a major educational, economic and cultural force throughout Kent, supporting innovation and enterprise across the region. The University has consistently been rated as one of the best universities in the UK according to the National Student Survey. The 2011 Guardian university guide saw Kent ranked 27 out 118 universities and the Complete University Guide, published by The Independent, places Kent 38th, maintaining its position as a leading UK university, with 82 per cent of subjects taught being among the national top 30. In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise, the University was placed 24th in the UK for its world-leading research out of 159 participating institutions, while 97% of academic staff work in schools or centres where the research is rated as internationally or nationally excellent. The University has a strong international impact, with long-standing partnerships with over 100 universities in mainland Europe and external networks with leading universities around the world. It is the only UK university with specialist postgraduate centres in Brussels and Paris. In 2008, the University was awarded The Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education for the work of its Kent Law Clinic.
3.The new development at the University of Kent will provide:
An investment of £24.0 million into the university
495 new student rooms
A sustainable development following UPP’s Eco Residence model. The superstructure will be built using highly insulated, air tight timber panels sourced from sustainable, managed forests, producing a significantly better carbon footprint than the norm. The timber frames will be manufactured off-site to minimise waste. To help promote sustainability, many energy-saving systems will be installed inside the building.
A number of jobs will be created during the construction phase of the project.
04/10/2010 - UPP delivers first phase of £133 million student accommodation project at the University of Exeter
New UPP student accommodation at the University of Exeter will be unveiled today (23 September), with students moving in this weekend. This is the first phase of a £133 million project, which will provide more than 2,000 new rooms for students at the Streatham Campus. In this phase, UPP, the leading provider of student accommodation, campus infrastructure and asset management has delivered 291 new student rooms.
The scheme was built using UPP’s Eco Residence model, which incorporates innovative sustainability measures such as solar panels. This new development will deliver cutting edge sustainable accommodation, which will help to further enhance the student experience. This first phase has been delivered on time and on budget by UPP and construction partners Cowlin Construction UK and Balfour Beatty; with construction of the next phases continuing on schedule.
The new rooms are a key part of a £275 investment programme currently being undertaken by the University of Exeter. Other schemes under construction include a £48 million centerpiece called the Forum Project which will provide a new student services centre and 400-seater lecture theatre, University reception and landscaped piazzas. It will also see the main library refurbished and extended. There is also a £25 million expansion to the Business School and new facilities for Biosciences.
The deal with UPP, which was the result of a competitive bidding process, has enabled the university to concentrate its funds on academic investment whilst also being able to improve and increase its student accommodation stock.
Jeremy Lindley, the Director of Finance & Corporate Services at the University of Exeter said:
"We are delighted that the first phase of accommodation is now completed and we think our students are going to be very impressed. Our partnership with UPP allows us to concentrate our resources on our academic facilities; which in turn creates a better overall experience for our students. It's also very important to us that as well as joining one of the top Universities in the UK, our students feel at home during their time here."
Sean O’Shea, Chief Executive of UPP said:
ldquo;The completion of this first phase of new student accommodation is a fantastic step towards the vision we are helping the University of Exeter to create. This development has been designed with sustainability in mind and to further enhance the student experience. Working with such a prestigious university is a real honour and we are looking forward to working closely with our construction partners and suppliers in delivering the next phase of development.”
UPP, the University of Exeter and Cowlin Construction UK and Balfour Beatty teamed up with The Prince’s Trust to host a scheme to give unemployed young people the chance to gain work experience in the construction trade. Since the course, UPP have employed a number of people who took part and are planning similar schemes across the country.
ENDS
For more information, please contact:
Martha Dalton, Ian Lindsley, Fran O’Leary, Jefferson Communications
Tel: +44 (0)20 7256 8912
Email:
Notes to Editors
1. University Partnerships Programme (UPP)
University Partnerships Programme (UPP) is the trading name of UPP Group Holdings Ltd. and its subsidiaries. UPP specialises in funding, developing and operating student accommodation and campus infrastructure schemes as well as delivering asset management services. It has invested almost £1 billion in the Higher Education sector and plans to invest a further £1 billion over the next two years.
04/10/2010 - Young people get into facilities management with The Prince’s Trust and UPP
UPP has teamed up with The Prince’s Trust to pioneer a scheme providing opportunities for unemployed young people in facilities management (FM). UPP along with university partners, the University of Nottingham, Nottingham Trent University and Loughborough University have been hosting, for the past two weeks, 11 unemployed 16 – 25 year olds on The Prince’s Trust ‘Get Into FM’ scheme.
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 holistic, bespoke residential management services, including facilities management.
The Prince’s Trust strives to give valuable work experience to young people in sectors where there are good employment opportunities. Thanks to UPP, the Trust are now able to extend this practice to facilities management.
During the course, participants gained experience in a variety of areas including: reception duties, administration, housekeeping, maintenance and the role of being a ‘handyperson’. Each person paired up with a UPP ‘buddy’ for support and advice throughout the scheme.
Accredited training in health and safety, fire safety and first aid were incorporated into the course; providing valuable and tangible skills for future work in the facilities management sector. Training in customer service and interview skills, provided by the University of Nottingham’s team, gave participants a boost in their presentation skills.
At the end of the course, participants gave presentations about their experiences at a celebration event to mark the end of the two-week period.
James, who had a place on the ‘Get Into Facilities Management’ programme, and attended the celebration event said:
“I’ve enjoyed the opportunity that UPP and The Prince’s Trust have given me to gain experience in this job sector. From this I hope to get a job in administration or reception work.”
Sam, who also had a place on the ‘Get Into Facilities Management’ programme, and attended the celebration event said:
“I’ve gained confidence and experience. Being able to do stuff and not just standing around has been really good. I hope that it will help me go get a career as a technician.”
Sean O’Shea, Chief Executive of UPP said:
“Our partnership with the Prince’s Trust is going from strength to strength, allowing us to give more young people the opportunities they need to build a career. As the leading provider of student accommodation and asset management services we are dedicated to providing training opportunities for young people on our sites, and investing in the communities in which we work. I would like to thank our university partners for all their help and support in hosting this scheme.”
Linda Norville from The Prince’s Trust said:
“More than a million young people in the UK are not in work, education or training. A programme like Get into Facilities Management with UPP is a fantastic example of how The Prince’s Trust and the private sector can work together to help these young people gain the skills, confidence and motivation to secure jobs.”
Michael Lees, Head of Estates and Resources Nottingham Trent University said:
"Nottingham Trent University have been delighted to support UPP in their partnership with the Prince’s Trust. Getting projects like these off the ground involves a lot of organisation and hard work; I commend UPP for their energy and commitment. I have no doubt this project will make a positive difference to people’s lives."
The programme has been held over three university sites: Broadgate Park at the University of Nottingham, Gill Street and Sandby Halls at Nottingham Trent University and the UPP office at Loughborough University. Teaching rooms for training sessions were provided by the Nottingham Trent University.
ENDS
For more information, please contact:
Fran O’Leary, Ian Lindsley or Martha Dalton, Jefferson Communications
Tel: +44 (0)20 7256 8912
Email:
Notes to Editors
1.University Partnerships Programme (UPP)
University Partnerships Programme (UPP) is the trading name of UPP Group Holdings Ltd. and its subsidiaries. UPP specialises in funding, developing and operating student accommodation and campus infrastructure schemes as well as delivering asset management services. It has invested almost £1 billion in the Higher Education sector and plans to invest a further £1 billion over the next two years.