University challenge

Brief

University estate development is a competitive market in the UK. Wates asked us to position them as a leading source of intelligence on current and future trends.

Solution

We worked closely with Wates to come up with an approach that would fill gaps in market intelligence and support the company’s strategic needs. A wide-ranging survey of estates directors from UK universities was combined with extensive desk research to produce an authoritative report: Making the University Estate Work For You. (Link) We ran a press campaign to disseminate the report’s findings.

Outcome

As well as providing our client with valuable intelligence – and leads to key decision-makers – the report raised awareness of Wates’ role in the market. The findings were reported on the BBC and gave rise to features in property, construction and education media. Building on the success of 2012, Wates commissioned full-scale research projects on the education sector in 2013 and 2014.