Our Annual Report provides an overview of our activities from January to December 2025, reflecting a year of momentum and impact.
The launch of our 2030 Strategy in January set the direction for the year ahead, providing renewed clarity of purpose and signalling our intent to drive sector-wide innovation over the next five years. Our membership continued to grow, with 11 new members joining in 2025, enhancing the breadth of expertise and increasing the impact of our collective representation. We also launched a new online platform, marking a step change in how members connect, collaborate and access our support. The return of the IHE Survey strengthened our evidence base, equipping us with timely insights and robust data to represent members’ interests effectively.
Advocacy remained at the heart of our work and delivered tangible impact, with our submission to the Department for Education on higher education reform influencing debate at a critical moment, while the Government’s Post 16 Education and Skills White Paper reflected several priorities long championed by IHE.
Throughout the year we responded to multiple consultations, offering constructive challenge to policy makers, ensuring our voice was prominent in national conversations about the value of higher education and emphasising the sector’s contribution to student choice, industry-aligned learning, and economic growth.
We remained focused on supporting our diverse network of members, from established providers to new entrants, through an expanded programme of events, expert-led training sessions and practical resources to navigate regulatory uncertainty, strengthen governance, and drive continuous improvement.
Across the UK, independent higher education is in the ascendant. This report demonstrates why, in an increasingly unpredictable political environment, IHE’s role as a trusted and influential representative body is more critical than ever.
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