Meet at Orchard Hotel Reception ahead of the start time. The following locations will be covered in the tour:

• Hallward Library
• Sir Peter Mansfield MRI Scanner Project
• George Green Library
• Tower site
• Science City
• Portland building
• Portland - Trent external space
• Return to Orchard hotel

Atrium, East Midlands Conference Centre 

Welcome address from Syd Cottle, Director of Estates and Infrastructure, University of Liverpool and AUDE Chair and Jane Harrison-White, Executive Director, AUDE. 

Concourse, East Midlands Conference Centre 

Concourse, East Midlands Conference Centre 

Concourse, East Midlands Conference Centre

Banqueting Suite, East Midlands Conference Centre

East Midlands Conference Centre 

Speakers:

• Professor Jane Norman, President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Nottingham
• Syd Cottle, Director of Estates and Infrastructure, University of Liverpool and AUDE Chair

Banqueting Suite, East Midlands Conference Centre

Banqueting Suite, East Midlands Conference Centre

Speaker:

• Jane Harrison-White, Executive Director, AUDE

Banqueting Suite, East Midlands Conference Centre

‘Rightsizing’ - a contemporary word for an age-old task. In a period when the operating costs of our estates are rising fast – in energy, in insurance, and in many other categories – increasing numbers of universities are seeing a mismatch between the space they have available to deliver their core outputs of teaching and research, the value they gain from that space in comparison to the costs of running it, and the utilisation rate of campus space, which can seem poor when compared to ‘commercial world norms’. At a point when the financial viability of the sector is under scrutiny, and we measure cost in carbon as well as cash, ‘rightsizing’ as a concept examines all the things we are doing and should be doing to shift our campuses towards ‘the right size’ – where current income, growth aspirations, cost and long-term value are all aligned.

How do we work with academic functions towards a greater shared understanding of the costs of maintaining underused buildings? Are we translating data into actionable estates strategy?  How are different universities around the country facing up to asset disposal, the harsh realities of attracting international students, shrinking maintenance budgets – and the many other elements that feed into this theme?

Speakers:

• Deborah Hudson, Director of Estates and Facilities, Harper Adams University
• Linda Goodacre, Director of Estates and Facilities Management, University of Sheffield
• Trevor Payne, Director of Estates, University of Oxford
• Damien Toner, Director of Estates, University of Edinburgh

Facilitated by Syd Cottle, Director of Estates and Infrastructure, University of Liverpool and AUDE Chair.

Banqueting Suite, East Midlands Conference Centre 

Banqueting Suite, East Midlands Conference Centre

This workshop will focus on a summary of the guide and its purpose, with the chance to ask questions from the lead team and opportunity to share learning with others who are adopting the guide.

Speakers:

• Dr. Roddy Yarr, Director of Sustainability, University of Glasgow and AUDE Sustainability Advisory Group Chair
• Sophie West, Senior Consultant, ARUP
• Andy Sheppard, Associate Director, ARUP

Conference Suite 3, East Midlands Conference Centre

Speaker details to be announced shortly.

Conference Suite 1, East Midlands Conference Centre

This workshop will focus on:

Reintroducing AUDESAT for Estates Leadership: The workshop will unveil the refreshed AUDE Self-Assessment Toolkit (AUDESAT), redesigned to reflect current challenges in higher education estates management. It introduces a more intuitive, digital-first platform that supports directors in evaluating operational maturity, benchmarking performance, and identifying strategic priorities.

Hands-On Exploration of the New Toolkit: Attendees will engage with the updated question hierarchy, scoring methodology, and visual benchmarking tools. The session will demonstrate how the toolkit supports estate audits, rationalisation strategies, and 100-day turnaround plans for new directors.

Driving Sector-Wide Improvement Through Data and Collaboration: The workshop will highlight how AUDESAT enables consistent good practice across institutions, fosters peer comparison, and supports AUDE’s ambition to become a centre of excellence in estates thinking. It will also explore opportunities for members to contribute to future toolkit iterations.

Speakers:

• Paul Davis, Deputy Director of Estates & Facilities (Development), Birmingham City University and AUDE Professional Development Group Chair
• Paul Wilson, Chairman, Provelio
• Charlie Bence, Director, Provelio

Conference Suite 2, East Midlands Conference Centre

Banqueting Suite, East Midlands Conference Centre

An interactive workshop of the AUDE Cleaning Benchmark Report 2025 of HE institutions, focusing on cost, quality, and resource use.

Key learnings from across the sector and how it compares to other sectors including best-in-class practices, and service delivery models.

Strategic Actions: Recommended improvements in staffing, scheduling, and innovation to drive value and standards.

Speakers:

• Lucy Black, Associate Director- Facilities & Student Accommodation, University of Plymouth and AUDE Strategic Facilities Management Group Chair 
• Bryan Carroll, Director of Estates & Facilities, Southampton Solent University
• Kate Davis, Consultant Director, Litmus FM
• Michele Dickinson, Lead Analyst, Litmus FM

Conference Suite 3, East Midlands Conference Centre

Martyns Law obtained Royal Assent on the 3rd April 2025. The implementation period will last 24 months before the Act comes into force. Guidance will be published during the 24 month period to look at the requirements of the Act and be done in a way that is easy to follow and is suggested that the use of third parties or expertise will be required to follow the guidance. This workshop will look at the definition of who will fall within the scope of the Act and what consideration University's should look to be undertaking over the 24 month period in preparation for the Act.

Speakers: 

• Jane Harrison-White, Executive Director, AUDE
• Julie Barker, Chief Operating Officer, AUCSO
• Gary Stephens, Vice-Chair, AUCSO 

Conference Suite 1, East Midlands Conference Centre

The workshop will focus on the 6 levels to successful digitisation, checklists for managing the digitisation journey and lessons learnt from industry and practice.

Speakers:

• Brett Plant, Systems and Digital Manager, University of Warwick and AUDE Digital Estates Group Co-chair
• Paul Eyden, BIM Manager, University of Warwick and AUDE Digital Estates Group Co-chair
• Paul Wilson, Chairman, Provelio
• Charlie Bence, Director, Provelio

Conference Suite 2, East Midlands Conference Centre

Banqueting Suite, East Midlands Conference Centre

The workshop will focus on making the EMR Data work for you, developing appropriate space and cost metrics to assess institutional performance and guidance on using the EMR as a tool, evidence and leverage to support estate decision making.

Speakers:

• Paul Morris, Director of Capital Development & Estate Operations, Lancaster University and AUDE Estates Management Report Lead
• Nicola Duffy, Head of Business Support Service, Lancaster University
• Grant Anderson, Director of Estates, University of Lincoln and AUDE Estates Management Report Lead

Conference Suite 3, East Midlands Conference Centre

Speaker:

• Helen Wallace, Assistant Director of Estates -Space, infrastructure & Digital, University of Exeter and AUDE Space Management Group Chair

Conference Suite 1, East Midlands Conference Centre

This workshop will focus on:

1. Understanding the core principles of neurodiversity-aware design and how they apply to university estate planning and management.
2. Learning how to incorporate neuroinclusive considerations into capital project briefs, space planning, and refurbishment strategies.
3. Gaining access to AUDE’s “Designing for Neurodiversity” tools and resources to apply in your own university context.

Speakers: 

• Stephen Wells, Director of Estates & Facilities, University of East Anglia and AUDE Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Group Chair
• Brendan Sexton, Estates Design and Construction Programme Lead, University of Nottingham 
• Mark Nolan, Chief Operating Officer & Education Lead, Floyd Slaski Architects

Conference Suite 2, East Midlands Conference Centre

Banqueting Suite, East Midlands Conference Centre

Closing address and final opportunity to network with colleagues. 

Speakers:

Banqueting Suite, East Midlands Conference Centre