Shared services: why is the higher education sector so late to the party?

By Martin Vincent, Vincent King and Andy Davies. The obstacles that have stalled more shared services in universities are now the justification for greater collaboration. There has been plenty of recent trumpeting of the benefits of shared services in higher education. Ian Diamond of the Universities UK efficiency and modernisation task force stated that "shared services could save millions" while Steve Butcher, head of procurement and shared services at the Higher Education Funding Council for England (Hefce), was reported as predicting a "first wave" of shared services projects this summer. Read more...