Business & Market Intelligence in Higher Education

Oakleigh helps Higher Education Institutions in the UK and internationally use business and market intelligence proactively to support planning and development at each phase of the student cycle.

What are the benefits?

Taking a proactive approach to business and market intelligence can help Institutions to:

Recruit and retain the most capable students.
Differentiate themselves from others and grow their business.
Raise their reputation.

Why is this important?

Higher education is facing uncertain times. There are requirements to:

Increase student numbers while maintaining standards.
Actively engage in widening participation.
Plan and manage an effective response to the varying demand for higher education.
Address growing internationalisation.
Combat the challenges of increased competition.
Satisfy an increasingly well-informed student body.

Supporting clients

Oakleigh has supported clients in addressing these challenges by:

Planning and preparing new programmes of study to meet current and future demand (British University in Dubai).
Understanding the market and developing effective marketing strategies (Leeds Metropolitan University).
Recruiting able students through a critical review of recruitment policies and practice from University to subject level, and evaluating competitor approaches (University of Newcastle).
Using technology effectively, helping HEIs understand how technology systems can best support business and market intelligence (University of Derby).

"Oakleigh was awarded the assignment against competition from a well respected local firm. It won because it was able to deliver in the short period available, had staff with more experience of the sector and was price competitive. The care taken by the consultants to comprehend the assignment thoroughly and to understand the, sometimes differing, perspectives of senior members of staff was impressive.

The wide personal experience of the consultant enabled the brief to be focused very clearly. The transparency of the reporting back and the sensitive way in which senior staff were involved enabled the findings to be adopted and subsequently enjoy the confidence of the University's Senate."

Registrar and Acting Chief Executive, British University in Dubai