February 2026 edition

As the sector heads towards spring, a number of important developments and debates are starting to gather pace.

In this edition, we’re looking at the growing momentum behind transnational education and what the government’s International Education Strategy might mean in practice for universities considering international campuses. With financial pressures continuing and student recruitment patterns shifting, many institutions are exploring how overseas partnerships and delivery models could form part of their longer-term plans.

Smita Jamdar

Partner and Head of Education

We’re also sharing the latest Wonkhe podcast discussing the increasingly heated debate around student finance, research funding and the wider future of higher education policy.

Alongside that, our team has been out and about at the BASBM conference at Edgbaston, catching up with school business management professionals and hearing what’s front of mind across the sector.

And finally, with the Employment Rights Act 2025 now firmly on the horizon, we’ve included both a practical overview and details of an upcoming webinar that will walk through the key changes and what employers should be doing now to prepare.

As always, if any of these developments are relevant to your institution, we’re always happy to have a chat.

Get in touch

Coming soon!

Governance after Gillies – key insights for university leaders

As governance continues to attract heightened attention across the higher education sector, we’ve been taking a closer look at what recent lessons - including those highlighted in the Gillies review - mean for university leaders today.

Our upcoming report explores the issues shaping effective governance, from board culture, financial oversight, and risk assurance, to the role of curiosity, data quality, and meaningful student involvement.

Drawing on our extensive experience working with governing bodies, the report also considers where boards can unintentionally lose focus, and the fundamentals that matter most for building resilient, well‑informed institutions.

We’ll be sharing the full report soon, so watch this space!

BASBM Conference

Tom Long and Esther Maxwell enjoyed a brilliant day at Edgbaston Stadium last month for the Birmingham Association of School Business Management conference.

The event offered a fantastic chance to hear from engaging speakers and connect with representatives from both local and national educational organisations. It also created plenty of opportunities for energising conversations with colleagues from across the region, along with time to explore the wide range of specialist suppliers supporting the sector.

The atmosphere throughout the day was lively and positive, with lots of ideas and insights being shared. We’re excited to continue these conversations and support the education community throughout the year.

Our latest education thoughts and insights

Growing Transnational Education – The International Campus Dimension

Other thoughts & insights

Key Dates for the Employment Rights Act 2025 and How Employers Can Prepare

Upcoming events

Book now

Boardroom Breach – The Critical Hours - Birmingham

This is a practical, immersive session designed for senior leaders who want to understand what really happens in the first hours of a cyber-attack or data breach, when decisions are made quickly, information is incomplete and the stakes are high.

Using the Polpeo crisis simulation platform, you’ll experience a live, evolving incident that responds to your decisions in real time. Unlike traditional tabletop exercises, the simulation creates genuine pressure and complexity, helping teams test judgement, expose gaps and understand what effective preparedness really looks like.

Training | 9:30am - 4:00 pm

Book now

The Employment Rights Act 2025: Critical Changes for Employers

The Employment Rights Act 2025 (formerly the Employment Rights Bill) has now received Royal Assent, marking the most significant shift in UK employment law in decades. For employers, the “devil is in the detail,” and understanding the phased changes rolling out across 2026 and 2027 is now a key business priority.

In this webinar, Ewan Carr and Rhys Wyborn will discuss what is needed for a clear, practical roadmap to compliance and will break down the reforms that matter most

Webinar | 9:30am - 10:15am

Book now

Boardroom Breach – The Critical Hours - London

This is a practical, immersive session designed for senior leaders who want to understand what really happens in the first hours of a cyber-attack or data breach, when decisions are made quickly, information is incomplete and the stakes are high.

Using the Polpeo crisis simulation platform, you’ll experience a live, evolving incident that responds to your decisions in real time. Unlike traditional tabletop exercises, the simulation creates genuine pressure and complexity, helping teams test judgement, expose gaps and understand what effective preparedness really looks like.

Training | 9:30am - 4:00 pm

As always, we encourage you to engage with us through feedback, suggestions, and discussions. Please get in touch with any queries regarding the subjects discussed in this edition or any topics you would like to see in the future.

www.shma.co.uk

We are here to help, get in contact with us or you can call us on 0330 024 0333 - we'd love to understand how we can help you and your business.

Unsubscribe

Shakespeare Martineau LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with number OC319029, is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority with number 442480, with its registered office at No 1 Colmore Square, Birmingham, United Kingdom B4 6AA. Shakespeare Martineau LLP is a subsidiary of Ampa Holdings LLP (registered number OC435936).

‘Corclaim’, ‘Lime Solicitors’, ‘Marrons’ and ‘Mayo Wynne Baxter’ are business names of Shakespeare Martineau LLP.

Any reference to ‘partner’ in relation to Shakespeare Martineau LLP is a reference to a member of Ampa Holdings LLP or to an employee or consultant of Shakespeare Martineau LLP with equivalent standing and qualifications who is authorised by Shakespeare Martineau LLP to execute and to bind that entity accordingly. The members of Shakespeare Martineau LLP are Ampa Holdings LLP, Mark Beesley, Lesley Davis, Fiona Dodd, Suzanne Leggott, Dean Orgill, Grant Parker, Jonathan Porter, Alex Smith, Hannah Tait and Victoria Tester.

Shakespeare Martineau LLP operates in accordance with the regulatory requirements set out in the SRA Standards and Regulations specifically the Principles, Code of Conduct for Solicitors, RELs and RFLs and the Code of Conduct for Firms, known collectively as the SRA Codes. For further information please visit here.

For information on how we process your personal data, please refer to our Privacy Notice.

Updated: September 2025

Shakespeare Martineau LLP, No 1, 1 Colmore Square, Birmingham, B4 6AA