Partner resources to support sector transformation work

The recently released Taskforce report, Transformation and Efficiency: Towards a new area of collaboration, identified seven opportunities open to the university sector, and the action needed from government to enable universities to drive such change.   

The Taskforce was established to identify opportunities for universities to respond to current and future challenges, and to set in train a wider conversation about driving transformation and embedding deeper collaboration across the sector, both within and between institutions. Its work aims to encourage bold and fundamental shifts in thinking for universities to work together, share services and assets, and collaborate in the national interest.  

As part of this work, the Taskforce has overseen the production of resources, advice and guidance designed to support its efforts to drive this transformation across the sector. This includes a range of resources produced by partner organisations – including KPMG, Mills & Reeve, Lloyds, PwC, Shakespeare Martineau and Moorhouse Consulting. 

Partner resources 

Resources in this suite of supporting material are now available:

• Radical Collaboration: A playbook on structural change developed by KPMG and Mills & Reeve. This resource outlines a range of potential models for collaboration between institutions and explores the strategic, legal and operational considerations that universities should take into account when evaluating these opportunities.  
• Financing the Transformation: A summary of themed workshops delivered by Lloyds Bank in May 2025, which brought together university leaders to explore financial models, funding approaches and investment strategies that can underpin long-term transformation.  
• Driving Efficiency and Value: A report produced by PwC, capturing insights from a series of four roundtables held with sector leaders. The report focuses on structured approaches to cost reduction, improving efficiency and maximising the value derived from university estates.  
• University Collaboration and Competition Law: A briefing by Shakespeare Martineau on university collaborations and competition law. This resource outlines key considerations to assist providers in assessing the implications of competition law when considering more collaborative working.
• Reimagining the Student Journey: Unlocking the Value of AI Across Higher Education: A publication from Moorhouse Consulting following a workshop where sector leaders explored opportunities in digital transformation and strategies for maximising the role of AI.
• Advancing Institutional Maturity in Growth, Economies of Scale, Productivity and Efficiency: A report by the University of East London using data from across the sector to examine four critical areas of financial management and governance. This resource introduces a diagnostic framework for vice-chancellors, boards, and senior leaders to gain insights into their operating models, improve approaches to sustainable growth, and inform practical transformation.
• Transformation and Efficiency in the Higher Education Sector 2026: This report summarises the discussions at a series of three workshops on financial acumen and financial governance, hosted by PWC in support of the programme, and with input from Lloyds. Leaders from universities including vice chancellors, finance directors, chief operating officers and registrars discussed how to improve the flow of financial information, costing models and support robust decision making. 

We welcome the support from our partners – KPMG, Mills & Reeve, Lloyds, PwC, Shakespeare Martineau and Moorhouse Consulting – for their expertise and collaboration in developing these resources. Their contributions will play a vital role in helping the sector to take an ambitious and proactive approach to the kinds of change that will shape the future of UK higher education.