About us

The purpose of the Business Planning Directorate is to support the Vice-Chancellor & the Senior Management Team in making strategic decisions to fulfil the University Strategic Plan.

Business Planning comprises a small team of specialists headed by the Director and reporting directly to the Vice-Chancellor. The team works closely with the Deputy Vice Chancellor and Pro Vice Chancellors in helping them to deliver their overall Business Plans, along with Directors and other senior staff and external agencies in matters of strategic interest.

Business Planning functions include:

• to co-ordinate the strategic planning process whereby Faculties and Directorate's objectives are agreed and incorporated into the overall Strategic Plan;                  
• to make recommendations about the overall development of the separate business plans in line with University strategies;
• to undertake analysis and special projects with a strategic focus;
• to co-ordinate and undertake the key statutory returns;
• to co-ordinate and develop with senior colleagues the key performance metrics required to measure success in meeting our strategic objectives.

"As Director of Business Planning I am committed to supporting the strategic change objectives in any and every way I can. I have been fortunate enough to be able to assemble a team of planning analysts who have the kind of experience and expertise that will be required to meet our own aims and objectives and I know that they share my own commitment."

We are now working closely with the Senior Management Committee, members of Council and our own internal audit service to target our main projects and initiatives towards the highest priority areas in terms of risk and opportunity. We are, however, happy to provide advice, facilitating, information or any other support that other areas may require in meeting the objectives that they have.

Stephen Dewhurst
Director of Business Planning