Our UK Stakeholders: who are
they, and what are we doing
with them?
Trevor Seeley
Head of Stakeholder Relations
What is a “stakeholder”?
• Widely used definition: “a person or group
that has an investment, share or interest in
an organisation”
• Stakeholder analysis – primary and
secondary
• Primary stakeholders: “individuals or
organisations that can have a direct
influence on the activities of the University”
A quick exercise …….
Looking at the handout, which of these are
our primary stakeholders?
Our primary stakeholder groups
• National govt – ministers, other MPs, civil
servants
• HE Bodies – HEFCE, RCs, networks
• Local govt – members & officers
• Regional and sub-regional bodies
• Business – companies and organisations
• Donors
• Alumni
UK Stakeholder Engagement – the
background
• We’ve been doing it from Day 1!
• Many examples of productive engagement
--------------------------------------------------------------• Renewed focus: 2010 General Election
• Renewed focus: University Strategy – “increase
engagement with our stakeholders”, etc
►External Stakeholder Relations Plan 2011
• But – why?
(a quick exercise ……)
Why should we engage with our
stakeholders?
Self interest
• Profile/reputation
• Funding for research & teaching
• Other income generation
• Support for campus development
Social responsibility
• Influence policy
• Knowledge exchange
• Partnership working
Current engagement activities
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Visits by Ministers/civil servants
Representation on HE sector networks
Liaison Meetings with local authorities
Representation on WM & sub-regional bodies
Collaboration with business/industry
Policy and public events
Alumni communications & development
Warwick Arts Centre
Warwick Volunteers
Proposed new engagement initiatives
Aimed at the national Government and
Policy community
• General campaign to raise our profile and
status in Westminster & Whitehall
• Warwick-branded events in London, to
showcase our public policy research and
the Global Priorities Programme
Proposed new engagement initiatives
Within the Region (a changing landscape)
• Enhanced role in sub-regional networks
• Increased visibility & presence in
Birmingham (led by WBS)
• New Regional Impact Study
• Promotion of our involvement in the 2012
Olympic Games (??)
Proposed new engagement initiatives
Within the Local Community
• New Community Engagement section on
UoW website:
www2.warwick.ac.uk/about/community
• Open Day/Weekend
• Greater focus on Public Engagement with
Research
• Westwood Community Cohesion Project
Proposed new engagement initiatives
Aimed at Business and Industry
• Collation and promotion of our overall offer
to business
• High profile events to engage business in
the GPP
• Internal Business Communications Group
Proposed new engagement initiatives
Aimed at our Alumni
• Continued development of the Knowledge
Centre
• New “email for life” system for student
email addresses
How do we know if it’s working?
Informal
• Anecdotal evidence
• Mentions in media/parliament
Formal
• Annual UK Stakeholder Survey
• ComRes survey of MPs
• Business Engagement Index