A message from Ben Vulliamy, Executive Director at AHUA and Colin Ferguson, Executive Director at AHEP:

We are delighted to invite you to register for the AHUA and AHEP Conference Partnership: Professional Services as the Catalyst for Collaboration, taking place at Manchester Metropolitan University on Friday 11 September 2026.

Register here

View the programme here

AHUA and AHEP decided to experiment with a joint conference for 2026, bringing together colleagues from across the higher education sector to explore the vital role of professional services in enabling collaboration, driving innovation, and supporting institutional success. We hope you will join us for what promises to be an engaging and thought-provoking day covering a range of seniority and specialisms for a creative conversation about how institutions might collaborate in order to open up new opportunities.

The delegate fee for 2026 is £175 + VAT.

Please note that the final deadline for bookings is Wednesday 19 August 2026.

The conference, will include respected and high profile provocations from UUK President and Manchester Metropolitan Vice-Chancellor Professor Malcolm Press CBE DL, who will help to define what successful collaboration within, between, and beyond universities might look like. TechnologyOne will be our Conference Partner, supporting us to think about the role of technology in collaboration and partnership. They will be running a plenary session with experienced senior university leaders exploring how institutions can build more collaborative, adaptable and resilient organisations, while ensuring AI strengthens relationships within universities, across the sector and with external partners. Throughout the conference delegates will work in a mixture of workshops and creative spaces to create an initial blueprint for collaboration for the sector and leave equipped to craft and accelerate collaboration within, between and beyond their own institutions.

We look forward to members of AHUA and AHEP joining us to meet new people, explore new ideas and be part of an exciting showcase of the collaborative ambition of professional services in UK HE.

We do hope you will join us and the team at the conference and we very much look forward to welcoming you to Manchester in September.

Best wishes,
Ben Vulliamy, Executive Director, AHUA
&
Colin Ferguson, Executive Director, AHEP

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Discounts

To help make the conference as accessible as possible, a limited number of discounted tickets are available for delegates who meet one of the following criteria:

• Your institution is purchasing three or more tickets.
• You or your institution are currently experiencing financial hardship.

If you believe you may be eligible for a discounted rate, please email assistant@yourvision-events.com with the following information:

• Your full name
• Your email address
• Your institution
• The number of tickets you wish to purchase
• A brief outline of your or your institution's circumstances to support your request

All applications will be considered on an individual basis, and a member of the event team will be in touch regarding eligibility.

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Conference Partner: Technology One

TechnologyOne is proud to partner with AHUA and AHEP in supporting senior leaders across the UK higher education sector.

Universities are facing significant strategic challenges and changing expectations from students, staff, and stakeholders. Navigating these challenges requires more than technology. It requires collaboration, shared insight and a willingness to rethink how institutions work together.

By engaging directly with AHUA and AHEP members, this partnership brings the opportunity to better understand the priorities, opportunities and challenges facing universities today, at an institutional level and across the sector. These conversations help inform how to continue to evolve solutions while contributing to wider discussions about the future of higher education.

TechnologyOne will also be hosting an optional drinks reception following the conference, from 16.30-18.30, providing colleagues with an opportunity to catch up with friends, network, and reflect on the day. 

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Conference Partnership host: Manchester Metropolitan University

We're excited to be headed to Manchester and thanks to our host at Manchester Metropolitan University. The AHUA and AHEP Conference Partnership will be held in the Dalton Building which is a new home for the Faculty of Science and Engineering, a state-of-the-art environment with outstanding facilities and social spaces.

The Dalton Building is a 20 minute walk from Manchester Piccadilly Railway Station or a 7 minute walk from Manchester Oxford Road Station.