Public trust & impact
Goodwill, civic value and sustainability: the claims a university has to stand behind.
A third of the public in England say a degree isn't worth it. They still value universities. That gap is the sector's biggest opportunity.
Confidence in the degree as a personal investment has collapsed since 2005, but goodwill towards universities as institutions has held. The sector keeps defending the price of the product when the public is telling us it values the institution.
22 October 2026 · 2 min read
The civic story is your strongest reputation asset, and the least told
Universities transform their cities and regions every day, yet the story rarely reaches the people whose support they need most. In a tougher political climate, that's a risk no institution can afford.
5 October 2026 · 2 min read
Sustainability claims are becoming the sector's next reputation risk
Students, staff and regulators are increasingly sceptical of green claims. Universities that can't evidence what they say risk turning a strength into a liability.
3 October 2026 · 2 min readEpisodes on this topic.
Sustainability Claims: The Sector's Next Reputation Risk
Universities often talk about sustainability with more enthusiasm than evidence, and regulators and sceptical students are watching.
18 October 2026 · 4:45
The Civic Story Is Your Strongest, Least Told Reputation Asset
What a university does for its place and what its place knows about it are often far apart.
18 October 2026 · 4:23