Challenges being faced by the sector

Although we’ve emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic, we continue to navigate complex challenges in an uncertain and ambiguous context, characterised by social, geopolitical, environmental and technological volatility and disruption.

After many decades of organic growth, many universities find their structures, systems and processes in need of overhaul; their working relationships strained; and their internal culture in need of review.

Leaders face an unprecedented set of challenges, ranging from the climate crisis and financial sustainability; to uncertainty around UK government HE policy and an increasingly interventionist regulatory context; changing student attitudes, expectations and needs; industrial action and a vocal and discontented workforce; and a culturally-divided public sphere in which the social and political value of higher education is increasingly contested. Yet the relentless pace of change means that they lack the time and headspace to stand back and objectively evaluate these challenges.

What HEdSpace Consulting can deliver for you

HEdSpace Consulting works with universities as a strategic partner. We’ll help create the headspace you need to navigate the challenges ahead, and equip your people with the awareness, insights and tools that you need to deliver transformational and sustainable change. With over 50 collective years of experience within UK universities, we have first-hand knowledge not only of the challenges faced by the sector, but also a nuanced understanding of its unique culture and context.

We offer bespoke, insightful and in-depth consultancy. We work in close partnership and engagement with all our clients and at all levels of your organisation, from initial scoping, through to data collection and analysis; benefits identification; root cause analysis; and the design of targeted solutions to deliver sustainable and transformative change.

Our consultants’ broad experience as well as specialist expertise allows us to cover a wide range of organisational requirements. Every client intervention is tailored to your specific needs, but for illustrative purposes, previous services have included:

• Data collection, analysis and insights
• In-depth staff and student engagement through staff perception and change readiness surveys, student focus groups, interviews and observing work in the workplace (“Day in the Life Of” observations)
• Strategic reviews of operating models, staff/student experience and organisational culture
• Expert project management and change management
• Transformational process improvement programmes, including the delivery of rapid improvement workshops and the delivery of “train the trainer” programmes to support the development of in-house process improvement capability
• Delivery of targeted staff development programmes
• Leadership development coaching
• Building and developing high-performance teams 
• Conflict management and alternative dispute resolution

The benefits of working with us

HEdSpace are focused on measuring the improvements achieved with each project and can demonstrate tangible benefits to the client. Typically the benefits are:

• More effective structures that deliver better staff satisfaction and career progression
• Better student experience
• Greater staff engagement
• Financial benefits through cost savings
• Improved end-to-end processes, removing sources of frustration such as rework and delays
• Promotion of a culture of collaboration, participation and innovation
• Increasing collaboration and innovation through the breaking down of silos
• Delivery of additional income and the ability to capitalise on new opportunities
• Risk management and mitigation
• In the longer term, a move towards transformational culture change

Get in touch with us at info@hedspaceconsulting.co.uk to discuss how we can support you. You can also find out more about our team and what we stand for.