Establishing Your Right to Be Heard: Building Constructive Relationships with Policymakers in the Short- and Long-Term in the Higher Education Sector

As the UK gears up for the 2024 General Election, the Higher Education (HE) sector could be forgiven for thinking the world of Westminster is against it currently.  

Having been the focus of negative attention and the target of numerous criticisms from the current government – including over the perception of ‘low value’ degrees and overseas student numbers – a conspicuous silence has emerged across both major parties in terms of proposed solutions to the big challenges HE institutions are facing.  

For example, on fees and funding, despite warnings over ongoing viability, policymakers appear reticent to commit to spending or support to continue bolstering a sector that is fundamentally key to the future success of the UK as both an economy and a ‘global superpower’ (as politicians like to remind us regularly). 

Of course, with the election seemingly still a way off – at the time of writing mostly likely in October or November 2024 – we may yet see HE come into focus and commitments made to support the sector over the coming period. What is clear, during a period when fiscal caution is dominating the narrative among both the Conservatives and Labour and questions are being posed as to how more can be done with less and what reforms can be enacted to unlock growth, it is vital the sector – and institutions individually – continue to make the case for the contribution HE makes to the UK and why it needs to be backed. It has never been more important for institutions to be building, maintaining and enhancing relationships with policymakers and stakeholders at all tiers of government.  

What, therefore, should HE institutions be thinking about in terms of developing and enhancing their visibility and relationships with policymakers? And how can organisations establish their right to be heard – ultimately, maximising their influence as HE policy develops in the coming period?

Go beyond HE – find alignment with policymaker interests 

It goes without saying that HE policy is of the utmost importance to HE institutions and it is, of course, right that the sector engages on the challenges they are facing and campaigns for the support, funding and backing needed.  

However, for individual institutions to maximise their impact and build strong advocates among policy and stakeholder circles, it is critical to think beyond HE. Westminster is home to policymakers and stakeholders with a vast range of interests, passions and responsibilities – but not all MPs will have that great an interest in HE, or an understanding of the technicalities underpinning HE policy.  

Focus on the innovative research and activity being conducted at your own institution and find alignment with areas that individual policymakers are working on. Doing so will enable to you engage with a broader range of stakeholders, help position you constructively and enhance awareness of the positive contribution you can make – ultimately, helping build advocates for you.  

For example, it would be worth considering: 

• Are there issues HM Treasury is looking into that your academics’ expertise and research could feed into?

•  How can your institution support the work of individual Select Committees and their inquiries?

• Which All Party Parliamentary Groups are active and align with the research your academics are focusing on?

Finding ways to engage policy stakeholders in ways that align with their own interests and passions is an excellent way to build constructive and impactful relationships, so always think beyond HE.

Think ‘solutions’ – don’t simply moan! 

Policymakers – particularly those at a government level – are facing battles and fighting fires daily, sometimes of their own making and sometimes as a result of wider events.  

Consequently, their bandwidth for dealing with the problems raised by individual organisations and sectors can be limited.  

This is, of course, not to say that problems and challenges shouldn’t be highlighted to ministers, special advisers and officials across relevant departments (as well as wider parliamentarians). However, to maximise your chances of successfully resolving issues and mitigating problems, it’s crucial to be prepared with solutions, proposals and options.  

Policymakers will want to see their broader ambitions and commitments delivered, so often it won’t be enough to merely say “this won’t work”, “we don’t support this” or “this will impact us negatively”, even if this may very much be the case.  

Instead, take time to think up solutions that provide government with a ‘way out’ on an issue whilst still giving them what they are after. If there’s one key question to keep front of mind it should always be: what alternative approach can we propose to government that still delivers the outcome they are after?  

Develop ways to maintain engagement over time – become a constructive partner 

Too often, organisations fall into the trap of seeing effective public affairs activity as a one-off exercise – arranging a meeting, getting agreement to do something, and seeing that as ‘job done’. This couldn’t be further from the truth.  

To maximise your impact, especially in a crowded environment such as the HE sector, developing ways to maintain engagement, visibility and relationships over a period of time is crucial. Ultimately, this boils down to you becoming seen as a constructive partner for policymakers and stakeholders. 

To do this effectively, look to address how you can regularly be in contact with Parliamentarians, without going to them with ‘asks’ each time or seeking requests for support. Beyond that initial one-to-one meeting, what does a broader engagement plan for policymakers look like for your institution?  

• Do you have access to research, evidence & statistics that can be of use to an MP’s work and can this be provided to them on a regular basis (say two or three times per year)?

• Are there developments, innovations, commercialisations or spinouts happening within your institution that will interest MPs? If so, can you provide opportunities to highlight them to policymakers? 

• Do your academics have ambitions to develop programmes of research and work in areas that touch upon priorities for government, opposition and wider stakeholders? If so, within reason, can you develop a ‘future programmes’ briefing to go to targeted policymakers? 

Bringing your work to life will help establish long-term relationships with policymakers. Consider ways in which you can provide updates and information in an engaging and varied way. For example: 

• Can you turn your research and insights into a regular ‘update’ briefing to stakeholders?

• Can you bring your work to Parliament, convening sessions with academics, students and policymakers on specific topics that link your institution’s expertise with the interests of MPs? 

• Can you develop thought-leadership material – such as reports or manifestos – that put forward recommendations on how your research can be used to deliver on government objectives? 

Throughout all the above, if you can find ways to provide stakeholders with information that otherwise isn’t readily available, then your institution will become seen as a constructive and engaged partner – helping build and maintain relationships on long-term timeframe.

Simon Darby is the Head of Public Affairs at PLMR, a leading UK integrated public affairs and communications agencies with extensive experience across the education space, including the HE sector.