GuildHE has today (20 May) commented on the Department for Education letter to the Office for Students, setting out the Strategic Priorities Grant funding available for 2025-26, and the terms and conditions for its allocation.
Dr Brooke Storer-Church, Chief Executive Officer of GuildHE, said:
"GuildHE welcomes the government's recognition of the vital role specialist institutions play in driving growth, provided by the ongoing commitment to specialist funding streams. We are also pleased to see the retention of formulaic capital funding, which is vital to securing a wide range of institutions and a diverse sector.
While not a surprise, the announced cuts to overall funding will exacerbate existing financial pressures, impacting the sector's capacity to deliver in some areas. Given this, it’s necessary to ensure critical industrial strategy sectors like the creative industries will be served by the SPG allocations, alongside STEM and healthcare priorities.
We look forward to working with the OfS on future funding approaches to protect a wide range of providers and secure a diverse sector that benefits all."