universities as regenerators: henry gun-why, university of wolverhampton
TRANSCRIPT
Our Vision, Your Opportunity
“Taking the Role of Anchor in Regeneration”
Universities as Regenerators
Citylabs 1.0 science workspace on Oxford Road
20th May 2015
Henry Gun-Why
Director of Estates and Facilities
Our Vision, Your Opportunity
• The University of Wolverhampton holds a distinctive place with the
Higher Education Sector and is one of the most successful modern
universities, delivering excellence in teaching and research,
widening access and business engagement.
• The University began its life 190 years ago, to enhance the
education and skill base of the workforce in a major industrial
conurbation.
• Today, as the University of Opportunity, it is an integral part of
economic growth and social change within the West Midlands and
beyond.
• The University is now moving to the next stage of its development
in delivering its strategic plan, which is focused on how the
University can make a real difference to individual lives and
economic growth.
Presentation Outline
Context
How far have we come!
The HEI Sector
Investment Principles
Transformational Projects
HEFCE and future role of Universities
C Words and Don’t - Lessons Learnt
Head Line Act !
Next Steps – Integrated Master Planning Approach
Closing Words
Context - Position Statement – May 2015 • The University of Wolverhampton is in a good position
• Financially stable with healthy reserves, above target
surpluses and low borrowing.
• Relatively stable in our student numbers and student
performance and employability has improved.
• Our research profile has improved in the Research
Excellence Framework 2014.
• Student satisfaction has generally improved
• Investing in the a improving Estate
• This has all been done during a time of unprecedented
change and volatility within the sector , but the job is by
no means done.
• We must continue to invest and innovate to ensure we
continue to move forward, grow and provide an
excellent experience to all of our stakeholders.
About the University
• Three main teaching campuses at City, Walsall and Telford
• Learning Centres at Burton and Stafford
• A new learning centre is proposed on the Southwater development at Telford
• 23,000 students, 75% of whom are under-graduates
• 2000 staff
• The University estate is 160,000 m2 across the West Midlands and Shropshire
• 10% of the student body comes from outside the EU
• Sponsors of a number of academies, three University Technical Colleges and
a significant Outreach programme
• Space Utilisation 30%, sector median 30%
• Functional Suitability - good
• Carbon Reduction from 2007-08 -16746 tonnes to 2013-14 -11266 tonnes
The University of Wolverhampton is the anchor for economic development,
job creation and partnership work within the region.
The HEI estate – investing in quality
• The research led by the Association of University Directors of Estates
(AUDE) looked at trends in the quality of the estate. Quality means the
physical condition of buildings and their functional suitability, whether they
are fit for purpose.
• The good news is that there has been major progress in delivering these
priorities over the past ten years.
• The percentage of space rated as Condition Category A (as new) and
Category B (sound, operationally safe and exhibiting only minor deterioration)
has increased by more than 19% to 78%.
• There has also been a marked increase in the proportion of space rated as
being fit for purpose. The percentage of space rated as functional suitability
Grades 1 (excellent) and 2 (good) is now 85%, an increase of nearly 22%.
• These improvements in condition and functional suitability stem from the
major investment that higher education institutions (HEIs) have made in their
estates to adapt and renew buildings to meet changing demand and to
comply with legislative and environmental standards.
But the challenge continues – trends in investment
Nearly 80% of the HEI
estate is rated as being in
good condition. Across the
UK, the cost of bringing
these buildings up to a
good standard – to at least
Category B – is estimated
by the sector to be in the
order of £4bn.
Context of the HEI sector in 2011-12
• Universities in the West Midlands generated output of £1.95 billion
• 76,580 students from other parts of the UK were attracted to the West
Midlands to study
• West Midlands’ HEIs - together with the spending of international students
and students from other parts of the UK - generated 55,355 jobs. This was
equivalent to 2.2% of the 2012 West Midlands workforce in employment
• When combined with the impact of spending of international students and
students from other parts of the UK, West Midlands HEIs generated a total
regional GVA of £2.9 billion. This was equivalent to 3% of total 2011 West
Midlands GVA
• As well as output of £1.95 billion, through knock-on effects universities in the
West Midlands generated an additional £2.6 billion in other industries
throughout the UK. The majority of these effects (£1.9 billion) were in the
West Midlands
• Source: Universities UK - The Economic Impact of the West Midlands Higher
Education Sector (April 2014)
Investment Principles – Part 1 Investing in 2020 is not a capital programme. It is an investment
programme focussed on growth – growth of student numbers, growth of
income, growth of the student experience and growth in the
economy. And it is about the whole University.
The draft investment principles are for investment to deliver a university
that is:
Transformational and will take us into the future
Student-focussed, concentrating on the needs of current and
future students
Equipped to be at the heart of economic, social and cultural
development and growth
Committed to sustainability, both environmentally and financially
Has a presence.
Investment Principles – Part 2
These principles will be used as the basis of evaluation for investment business
case proposal. In addition, any business case will need to clearly show how it
will impact on at least two of the six areas below (to which our KPIs are linked
and will allow us to measure progress):
Student Experience
Excellence in Teaching and Learning
Enterprise and Entrepreneurship
Research
Growth
Presence
Investment Plan : Projects Update !
• City Campus Molineux and City Campus Wulfruna Masterplanning - £2.5m
Enabling Projects, delivery for 18 January 2013 - 31st May 2013 completed
• City Campus Wulfruna - Science Laboratory Facility in MB Building for
September 2014 (phase1), with Phase 2 scheduled for early 2015-£23m
• City Campus Wulfruna Courtyard – scheduled for September 2015 - £600k
• City Campus Molineux – University of Wolverhampton Business School,
scheduled for August 2015 - £19m
• City Campus Molineux – Camp Street pedestrianisation, scheduled for
September 2015-
• Springfield Campus – scheduled for 2016-18 - £65m
• University of Wolverhampton Science Park – scheduled for 2017- £12.1m
• Health Futures UTC in West Bromwich - £10m
University Quarter
The University Quarter is an
important part of the City Centre
that stretches from its main
Campus at Wulfruna Street across
to the north of the ring-road - AAP
City Wulfruna
Rosalind Franklin Building
Project Management Team: Faithful & Gould
Architects: Berman Guedes Stretton
Principal D&B Contractor: Kier Construction
D&B Architects: Tweedale
Rosalind Franklin Building – realising the vision on Stafford Street -
£23m
CGI courtesy of Berman Guedes Stretton
City Molineux
University of Wolverhampton
Business School
Project Management Team: Gardiner & Theobald
Architects: Sheppard Robson
Principal D&B Contractor: Interserve
D&B Architects: Sheppard Robson
Springfield Brewery Acquisition • The Springfield Brewery campus has been a significant site for employment in
history for the City of Wolverhampton, dating back to 1874, with its iconic
clocktower.
• The Springfield Brewery site closed in 1991
• Plans submitted in 2006 for a residential development.
• In September 2014, the University of Wolverhampton announces it intent to
buy the site as part of our on-going investment in education, training and
economic regeneration across the Black Country. The proposed Springfield
Campus will be a local, regional, national and international centre of
excellence for the Built Environment.
Springfield Campus • On this campus the University will create a state-of-the-art set
of facilities for teaching, research, training and professional
development including:
The West Midlands Construction University Technical
College (WMCUTC) scheduled to move into Springfield in
2016.
The establishment a Centre of Excellence in Construction
involving the current School of Architecture and the Built
Environment at Springfield, with a new multi-million pound state-
of-the-art facility for higher education. This will make Springfield
a unique campus and should enable the University to expand its
provision and become a world leader in this area of activity which
is crucial to the economic development of the Black Country
2015-18.
Other stakeholders
The project will transform 12 acres of dereliction – “Phoenix
from the Flames”
Springfield Campus – Developments
• The Springfield Campus Acquisition Working Group was established
in May 2014, and acquisition of the site is being progressed.
• WMCUTC development is being progressed, for a proposed opening
in September 2016
• The Springfield Campus Strategic Development Framework
completed in March 2015 to support the WMCUTC planning
application
• The City of Wolverhampton Planning Department is working with the
University of Wolverhampton to progress the Masterplanning brief for
the site, noting its historical significance
• The Springfield Campus Project Board will be chaired by the VC to
lead this significant development
• Overall investment for the Springfield Campus is circa £60m
University of Wolverhampton Science Park – Proposed
Developments of Science Technology and Prototyping
Centre
HEFCE and future role of Universities
• HEFCE is encouraging universities to explore these
routes through a number of initiatives :-
engagement with local schools;
local skills agendas;
social innovation and social enterprise;
cultural engagement;
local economic growth.
• Universities as place-makers and anchors
• Universities must make the running on culture and
societal issues
HEFCE and future role of Universities
• HEFCE will fund new local collaborative networks, in a
programme to be announced by the government as launched a
tracker system, HEAT (Higher Education Access Tracker)
• HEFCE will encourage young people into Higher Education
from school age level, a social investment agenda through
partnerships designed to promote local social cohesion and
social confidence
• Furthermore, 20% of marks awarded in REF assessments will
now be awarded to the Impact Case Studies
• Finally, HEFCE’s call for proposals for being ‘a really fantastic
anchor’ (Catalyst Fund) for a ‘new role model’ of institutions
as anchors .
University Essentials for Regeneration
• Robust Strategic Plan ,
enabling strategies and sub-
strategies
• Operational Plans that align to
delivery of the strategic plan
• Good Governance and
structure
• Governing Body backing and
endorsement
• Be willing to take risk and eke
out opportunities
• Be open to ideas with legs and
innovation !
• Robust Evidence to underpin
Business Cases
• Investment Principles
• Media and Communications
Savvy
• Know what good looks like and
have beacon projects !
• Set good professional
standards and work with
agency officers
• Take professional advice as
required
• Make friends with Procurement!
British Urban Regeneration Association
• "Urban regeneration is a
comprehensive and integrated vision
and action which leads to the resolution
of urban problems and which seeks to
bring about a lasting improvement in
the economic, physical, social and
environmental condition of an area.“
• Development is easy, but regeneration
requires partnership
C Words and Don’t
• Confidence
• Compelling story
• Conviction and belief
• Cost
• Don’t miss the turn to the future!
• Don’t be afraid to ask?
• Don’t be afraid to lead !
• Don’t value engineer everything!
Lessons Learnt !
• Regeneration is a long haul
• Over-reliance on Government money
• Curse of the gap
• Leadership is key
• Partnership matters
• Be self-critical
• Be Bold and Confidence is everything!
• Bold Statements will attract attention and PR !
• The University of Wolverhampton is splashing out £250
million over the next five years in a ‘once in a lifetime’
investment. The university will spend a fortune to boost
economic growth and job prospects across the Black
Country. Bosses at the university feel they have a key role
to play in the future of Wolverhampton and the Black
Country. They want to create jobs in industry and bring
new forms of employment to the area in an investment
project that has been two years in the making.
• Wolverhampton as a Anchor for regeneration