Multi-million pound finance secured

Aston University is on course to deliver its new corporate strategy after securing a £40 million finance facility from HSBC UK.

The funding will help the university deliver against its commitment to providing high quality facilities that respond to the needs of the university’s three main beneficiaries: students, businesses and the West Midlands region.

As well as the multi-million pound finance package from HSBC UK, Aston University has benefitted from a wider package of support from the bank including a programme of networking events and workshops for staff and students, the development of a cybersecurity degree and the delivery of a student Hackathon event.

HSBC UK has also been providing Aston University with an ongoing financial wellbeing programme for its students, which helps students plan and manage their finances as part of the university’s growing commitment to the health and wellbeing of those studying at the institution. 

Alison Davies, director of finance from Aston University, said: “We’re committed to delivering outstanding education for our students, fostering engagement with local industry, business and the public sector and strengthening ties with the West Midlands region.

"HSBC UK has a fantastic reputation in the higher education sector and it was clear from the tendering process that the team could offer a competitive all-round package, including strong links to the global marketplace. Our longstanding relationship with the bank will help underpin our academic success by making Aston University an attractive proposition to students and partners, both at home and abroad.”

Suzy Verma, head of public sector and education at HSBC UK, said: “We’ve been working with Aston University for the last three years and in that time we’ve seen the institution go from strength-to-strength.

"We are especially delighted to put a funding package in place which helps support its strategic vision and will allow the university to attract and retain talent in the region, a key ambition for the city. We look forward to continuing our relationship with the university going forward and exploring how our partnership can add value to students and the wider region.”

Aston University has been awarded ‘gold’ in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), which focuses on teaching quality and student satisfaction, after finding that students achieve ‘consistently outstanding outcomes’, with high proportions going into highly skilled employment or further study. The university is committed to building on this strong reputation by continually developing to meet the demands of students, local businesses and the wider economy.

Keith Webb, deputy regional director Midlands Corporate Banking, HSBC UK, said: “Our team has built a strong relationship with Aston University in recent years, particularly since our own relocation to Birmingham.

"This has enabled us to really get under the skin of its new strategy and agree the best finance package for its needs. HSBC UK is committed to supporting the higher education sector, both in Birmingham and further afield, and it is a privilege to work with the team at Aston to support their ambitions to fuel regional growth and employment.”