In this section, you can meet our governors, find out more about Hartpury’s Corporation – effectively the board of directors – and its responsibilities, as well as wider governance, accounts, structure and policy information.
Hartpury currently operates six governance committees. These are the Audit and Risk Committee, the Strategy, Finance and Resources, the Quality, Enhancement and Standards Committee, the Remuneration Committee, the Search and Governance Committee and a Special Committee that meets to discuss matters outside of the remit of the other committees and extraordinary matters.
You can find the minutes from all committee meetings and Corporation meetings below.
Academic regulations
The Academic Regulations describe how an Award can be gained, including conditions for enrolment, achievement and graduation of awards. These are an important part of our contract with our students. The Academic Regulations are set by the Awarding Body, Hartpury and are regularly reviewed to ensure that they are consistent and equitable.
Hartpury University and College Boards of Governors
Members of the Boards of Governors are mostly external to the College and University, they are local, regional and national people with a range of skills, knowledge and experience to help Hartpury take forward its strategic objectives. The Boards include in their membership the Vice-Chancellor and Principal, staff and student governors.
Any person wishing to become a Governor, or correspond with the Boards should contact the Clerk to the Governors. To find out more about being a Governor and how to apply please watch the below video from Edward Keene, Chair.
Gillian Steels
Clerk to the Governors
Hartpury College and University
Gloucester
GL19 3BE
Edward joined Hartpury College Board in August 2006 and the Hartpury University Board in 2018.
Edward manages the family arable and fruit farming business. He is Chair of the UK Blackcurrant Committee and a committee member on the Steering Group for the Orchard Network of Excellence for the cider industry.
Andy joined Hartpury in September 2022 as Vice-Chancellor, Principal and Chief Executive after 11 years at De Montfort University where he held a number of positions including Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research), Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Interim Vice-Chancellor. After a first degree in Mechanical Engineering, Andy was awarded a PhD from the University of Cambridge and a DSc from the University of Nottingham.
Barbara joined the Hartpury College Board in September 2015; she had previously been a staff governor but is now an Independent Governor.
Barbara has considerable experience in Further Education having previously managed Catering, Residences and Student Services Departments and then having had a career as a lecturer in BTEC Sport/Outdoor Education at Hartpury.
Chris joined the Hartpury College Board in 2012 and Hartpury University Board in September 2018. He was appointed as Vice-Chair in May 2022.
Chris has spent his career in education. In 2021 he retired as Chief Executive of Landex - a member organisation for land-based colleges and universities aspiring to excellence. Previously, he was Principal of Moulton College from 1992 to 2011 which he took to Ofsted “Outstanding”. Chris was awarded the OBE in the 2007 New Year’s Honours List for his services to further education and training.
Alison joined the Hartpury University Board in October 2019.
Alison’s career in HE extends over 35 years. She has held a number of senior roles in UK universities and has worked with other higher education institutions and agencies nationally and internationally on project and consultancy work.
Her roles have encompassed Executive responsibility for Student Administration, Student Experience and Support, Quality and Enhancement, School Operations, the Library, Legal and Compliance and supporting, guiding and advising the Chair of Council (the University’s governing body) and the wider Council.
Alison is a long-standing Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) Reviewer.
Patrick joined the Hartpury College Board in July 2018.
Patrick was an equity partner in Grant Thornton until 2009 and now runs an independent consultancy business. His career involved the management of a significant portfolio of clients, covering a wide range of businesses both in the UK and overseas. In the not-for-profit sector, Patrick was Chair of the Cotswold Nuffield Hospital Support Group, a member of the Development Committee of Cheltenham Festivals Ltd, Council at the University of Gloucestershire and Council at Cheltenham College.
Patrick is a Business and Finance Professional (BFP) and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales.
Robert joined the Hartpury University Board in September 2022.
Robert has lived and worked in Gloucestershire for nearly 30years, and has recently finished working for the NFU and NFU Mutual. He was local Group Secretary/Agent based in Maisemore and has been fortunate to work with the local agricultural community over that time.
He is a farmer’s son and is married to a local farmer’s daughter with three children who are in secondary and tertiary education. Farming and the rural community is a big part of my life.
He has supported Hartpury Rugby for many years and enjoys watching the RFU, BUCS and AASE teams. He is a Patron of the club. He enjoys all things sporting and outdoors – including triathlons, hillwalking/climbing and gardening.
Sascha joined the Hartpury College Board in September 2022
Sascha is a second-year university student, studying Equine Science and works part-time for the Hartpury Student Union as student president for guidance. She plans on doing her Master's degree at Hartpury with the aim of becoming a lecturer.
Alastair joined the Hartpury College Board in September 2021.
Alastair is Head of Sales at Map of Ag, having joined in 2014 following the completion of an MBA in Advanced Farm Management from the RAU. Prior to this Alastair was at Intel for 10 years, where he held various senior European finance and retail strategy roles. He utilises his experience from the tech sector to find solutions for the marketing challenges in agriculture, and is passionate about bringing data science to the farmer.
Lucie joined the Hartpury University Board in September 2022.
Lucie is an accountant, Chartered Tax Advisor, and a Partner at Hazlewoods in the Farms and Estates team where she leads the equestrian specialism. She has over 30 years’ experience in advising owner-managed businesses, private clients and trustees on business and taxation matters.
She has previously been a Governor at her children’s primary school, she found it really interesting to gain an understanding for the workings of the school. She is delighted to be involved with the fantastic work done at Hartpury as a governor.
Mary joined the Hartpury College Board in October 2019.
Mary has been a passionate and enthusiastic professional in the Further Education sector for over 30 years as a teacher, manager, leader, governor, adviser and policy maker.
After 11 years as a teacher and manager in FE Colleges, she moved on to posts in the Further Education Funding Council, the Department for Education and Learning and Skills Council. From a National Director’s post, she was seconded to the Andrew Foster Review of Further Education and then to the 157 Group of Colleges as its founding Director. She also served on an FE College Board for 5 years.
Mary returned to FE College roles in 2008, joining Warwickshire College as VP Strategy and then Deputy Chief Executive of the Warwickshire College Group.
From 2015 to 2019, she was an independent FE College consultant and adviser, working mainly on College mergers.
Henry joined the Hartpury University Board in 2018.
Henry had a 15 year career in banking before leaving to help set up and run a local Independent Financial Advisers business for 20 years. Henry is now a Financial Planner with Oculus Wealth Management in Cheltenham.
He is a former Member of the Council of the Dean Close Foundation, Chair of the Cheltenham Business Lunch Club and also runs an evening networking club and is well known in the Cheltenham business community.
Thomas joined the Hartpury University Board in 2018.
Thomas is an Associate Head of Department for Sport (Business, Coaching & Education) at Hartpury University and has held external examiner roles at Staffordshire University in the School of Life Sciences & Education, and Chesterfield College. Research interest and focus predominantly centres around Sports Coaching, specifically the utilisation of humour, coaching/teaching pedagogy, and high-performance coaching. Thomas has led a successful Teaching & Learning bid to evaluate the use of teaching observation within higher education, where findings were presented to the Higher Education Academy, and subsequently invited to speak at the Quality Assurance Agency conference around successful teaching observations systems in higher education. This has impacted the internal teaching observation mechanisms within Hartpury University, where Thomas is a teaching mentor.
Practically, Thomas is a qualified Rugby Union coach working within the Elite Rugby Academy at Hartpury University, managing performance and development within the British Universities and Colleges competitions.
Bill joined the Hartpury University Board in September 2018.
Bill has over 25 years of experience in Higher education at Board level, most recently at the University of West of England (UWE). He was involved in the partnership between UWE and Hartpury from its start in 1996. His UWE role focused on Finance, Commercial Development and enterprise and included overseeing and directing capital projects of over £300m. He left UWE in 2018 to start a portfolio career. UWE awarded him the title of Pro Vice-Chancellor Emeritus to recognise his contribution to the University.
Ian joined the Hartpury University Board in 2018, he had previously been a Hartpury College Governor.
Ian completed a commission in the Royal Navy, before moving to Sheffield Hallam University and later to Edge Hill University. Roles included Head of Department, Director of Undergraduate Programmes, Dean of Quality Enhancement and Graduate School Director. He is a Chartered Engineer, Fellow of both the Institution of Engineering & Technology and the Higher Education Academy, and was appointed OBE in 2010. He served as a Naval Reservist for over 35 years.
Following retirement, he continues as an academic reviewer with the Quality Assurance Agency. He was Chair of the organisation responsible for supporting UK Reserve Forces and Cadets and is currently Chair of Trustees of a national pension fund.
Helen has substantial experience in education having worked in independent, grammar and state sector schools. She currently works for a Gloucestershire/Wiltshire Multi Academy Trust and is based at a rural Wiltshire Comprehensive as Deputy Headteacher. As Chair of the North Wiltshire Continuous Professional Development group she ensures good quality training is provided for those aspiring to middle or senior leadership level. She is also an Olevi Outstanding facilitator and coach. She leads school improvement work across a number of schools and is committed to ensuring all students are given a good start in life through the education and opportunities they receive.
Helen joined the Hartpury College Board in July 2018.
Nick joined the College Board in September 2023, he had previously been a member of the FE Quest Committee.
Nick is currently Headmaster at Bredon School. He has over 20years teaching experience throughout the educational sector, including a boys’ selective grammar school, an Independent HMC secondary school and an Independent Association of Prep Schools prep boarding school. He has taught a variety of subjects, both as head of department and classroom teacher, including English, Biology, Physical Education and A level Sports Science and a QTS mentor.
Prior to his teaching career Nick played top level rugby, representing England throughout the age groups, and captained Wasps Rugby at academic level. Prior to moving to take up the Headship at Bredon Nick also coached National 1 side Tonbridge Juddians.
Outside school Nick is the proud owner of a flock of rare breed Manx sheep and enjoys spending time in the country with his family where he enjoys fishing, country pursuits and farming.
Rose joined the University Board in September 2023. Rose is the Director of Policy and Advocacy at the Higher Education Policy Institute. Rose directs HEPI’s work on policy, including research, policy analysis and the development of policy recommendations.
Rose is an experienced educator, having worked in outdoor education and as a teacher and Head of Science in secondary education before moving to the higher education sector. Rose worked at the University of Bath, overseeing policies and projects to improve to the student experience. She is driven to support the development of considered, evidence-based policy and has an interest in social mobility and equity.
Amy joined the College Board in September 2023.
"Since being at Hartpury College and studying the Level 3 extended diploma in Equine Science, I’ve been given the opportunity to learn about something I love, and through living on site this has allowed me to make a great group of friends. The student governor role sounded like a perfect fit as I enjoy attending college and would love to give my views on certain topics to enable all students now and in future to have a great experience here."
The number of applications for admission on to recognised, undergraduate higher education courses that we have received from UK domiciled applicants.
The number of offers we have made in relation to those applications.
The number of those offers accepted and the number of those who have registered with us.
The number of students who attained a particular degree or other academic award, or a particular level of such an award, on completion of their course with us.
It also shows these numbers by reference to:
It is important to note that the data presented has not been contextualised. This means, for example, that you will not be able to see from this data how many of those applying to courses met the entry criteria. It is also the case that universities and colleges will often receive many more applications than they have spaces on courses and so offer rates will necessarily be lower than application rates in those circumstances.
Hartpury currently has the following committee structure:
To download and read detailed yearly accounts for the college, please use the links below:
Policy documents relating to Governance can be downloaded below:
The Corporation is a legal body constituted under the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 and consists of 17 members from all walks of life and a cross section of the community which it serves including staff and students from the College. In business terms it equates to a board of directors in a company.
Under the current Articles of Government the Corporation is responsible for:
Through amendments to the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 (inserted by the Education Act 2011) a wide range of restrictions and controls on college corporations have been removed, putting colleges on a similar footing to charities operating within the private/independent sector. The Secretary of State will no longer have the power to amend or revoke a corporation’s instruments and articles. Instead this power will sit with the corporation, which will be able to change the Instrument and Articles to help meet their needs. The legislative requirements for the instrument and articles are now reduced to a minimum core of essential elements.
The College's Instrument and Articles of Government have been automatically changed from 1st April 2012 by the Modification of Instruments and Articles of Government Order 2012. Further changes were approved by the Corporation in July 2012 and October 2013.
The Hartpury College Corporation membership is comprised of:-
Attendance at Corporation Meetings
The Corporation is required to meet at least once per academic term and is quorate only when at least 40% of its Members are present. The Corporation agrees annually its Governance Targets which includes targets for attendance at Corporation and Committee Meetings.
The Clerk to the Corporation attends and minutes all Corporation and Committee meetings. The Vice Principals are normally 'in attendance' for all or part of each Corporation meeting.
The Clerk to the Corporation
The Clerk to the Corporation is responsible for organising the proper conduct of the Corporation's business. The Clerk is appointed by the Corporation, works directly for the Corporation and is answerable directly to the Corporation for the proper discharge of his duties as Clerk. The Clerk must provide independent advice to the Corporation and work closely with both the Chairman and the Principal in managing Corporation business. Specific duties of the Clerk include, but are not limited to:
Terms of Office and Filling Vacancies
Corporation Members can serve a term of office up to four years and, on retirement at the end of their term of office, they are normally eligible for reappointment. Student Governors serve a term of office of generally one year. The Student Governors are elected and nominated by Hartpury students on an annual basis.
A number of circumstances, such as having been adjudged bankrupt or holding a criminal record, make certain individuals ineligible for office and these are laid down in section 8, Persons Ineligible to be Members, of the Instrument and Articles of Government.
Corporation Members appoint both the Chairman and Vice Chairman from amongst their number and both can hold office for as long as is determined by the Corporation. Neither the Principal nor any staff or student member is eligible to be appointed Chairman or Vice Chairman.
The process for making appointments to the Corporation has to be both open and transparent. The Corporation takes advice and recommendations from its Search Committee in respect of new Members. The Corporation must formally approve the appointment of all Members.
A Member can resign at any time by giving notice in writing to the Clerk to the Corporation and the Corporation can remove a Member from office if it is satisfied that he/she has been absent from meetings for a period longer than 6 months without permission from the Corporation.
Members of the Corporation are required to declare and sign a ‘Register of Interests' annually and to agree to take note of the current 'Code of Conduct for Corporation Members' on appointment.
Minutes of Audit and Risk Management Committee meetings can be downloaded below:
Minutes of Strategy, Resources and Finance Committee meetings can be downloaded below:
Minutes of Search and Governance Committee meetings can be downloaded below:
Minutes of Quality Enhancement and Standards Committee meetings can be downloaded below:
Minutes of Corporation meetings can be downloaded below:
Minutes of Audit and Risk Management Committee meetings can be downloaded below:
Minutes of Strategy, Resources and Finance Committee meetings can be downloaded below:
Minutes of Search and Governance Committee meetings can be downloaded below:
Minutes of Quality Enhancement and Standards Committee meetings can be downloaded below:
Minutes of Corporation meetings can be downloaded below:
