Chief Executive Office
The Chief Executive’s Office shapes internal and external UK policy, and underpins UCAS’ Corporate Strategy and measurement of success against our strategic objectives.
Digital Services
The Digital Services business unit is at the heart of UCAS’ technical innovation, data and infrastructure. It focuses on leveraging data science, technology, and enterprise architecture to enhance UCAS' digital products and services. The unit is dedicated to developing and improving customer-centric digital solutions, ensuring seamless and secure online experiences for all users.
By providing insightful data and analysis, often made available to anyone with free-to-use intuitive dashboard, Digital Services empowers the higher education sector and those interested in the sector with valuable information to make informed decisions.
By working in collaborative, expert led, multi-disciplinary teams, Digital Services drives UCAS’ mission to connect students with their next opportunities through advanced technological solutions.
Finance and Corporate Services
Our Finance and Corporate Services business unit enables and inspires our business to achieve great things. The team is made up of the following functions:
- Finance
- Legal and Governance (this includes legal, corporate governance, information governance, business support, and the CEO office)
- Commercial and Estates (this includes procurement, risk and resilience, health and safety, facilities, and building management)
Communications and Marketing
Led by Dave Penney, Chief Communications and Marketing Officer, this broad business unit incorporates the following functions:
- UCAS Media education and industry sales
- Education and industry marketing
- Digital marketing operations
- Events
- Partnerships
- Apprenticeships
- Public affairs, press and communications
- Insights
The business unit is set up to deliver against the objectives of UCAS charity and operate UCAS Media (UCAS’ commercial subsidiary) to help fund UCAS’ charitable operations.
For the charity, our objective is to provide everyone with the information, advice and guidance they need to make informed decisions on their next steps. We deliver on this via our media ecosystem which consists of information, advice and guidance on ucas.com, our social media feeds across various channels, email, live events and webinars,
For UCAS Media, our business objective is to generate revenue through paid collaborations with higher education providers who wish to improve their position in the market, and commercial brands who want to reach students. All brands wishing to use our media ecosystem and insight services must align with our framework. All profits generated are gift aided to UCAS the charity and in turn fund the charitable objectives, such as our recent announcement that students in receipt of free school meals will no longer need to pay the UCAS application fee.
Customer Operations
The Customer Operations business unit at UCAS was formed to deliver and enhance the support and product & services provided to students, advisers, providers and other stakeholders involved in the higher education admissions process. This department focuses on improving the efficiency and effectiveness of customer interactions, ensuring that applicants and the providers they consider, and apply to, receive timely and accurate information, assistance, and guidance throughout the application cycle.
It’s also the unit where we anticipate, respond to and define customer change to ensure UCAS can meet the needs of its customers and stakeholders going forward. Working in cross-company multi-disciplinary teams comprising; Customer Service and Relationships, Product Management, International, Policy, Admissions Reform and Fair Access.
People and Change
The purpose of our People and Change team is to motivate and mobilise our people to deliver organisational change, enabling us to stay ahead of customer expectations and provide exceptional service. We aim to create an environment which brings together diverse thinking, passion and expertise to work together in delivering our mission and strategy.
We shape the culture and ways of working, identify and hire the right capabilities and talent, help people use their strengths and potential to learn and grow, and measure and monitor success so we know our work is having a positive impact. We want UCAS to be a great employer where colleagues are enabled to reach their fullest potential and our team is at the heart of this ambition.