Wider university support

Southern Universities Management Services – the SUMS Group – comprises Southern Universities Procurement Consortium (SUPC) the largest of England’s four regional university purchasing consortia, SUMS Consulting, the specialist Higher Education management consultancy and SUMS Consulting International, the strategic partner to universities and education institutions around the world, supporting them to drive impactful change and sustainable improvement.

A not-for-profit and registered charity, SUMS was first established more than 50 years ago by a group of universities to provide objective, independent management support. SUMS’ collective reach extends to beyond 50% of the UKHE sector.

SUMS Consulting adds depth to our procurement services as the partner of choice for universities because of our unique understanding of higher education and its opportunities and challenges. SUMS turns data, insights, and benchmarking into smarter decision-making. Our experts help universities cut costs while improving operations to secure long-term sustainability. 

With over 50 years’ experience, SUMS provides practical, budget-friendly solutions that drive measurable impact. Our approach goes beyond internal analysis — we provide a sector-wide perspective, to highlight to your institution where real opportunities for improvement lie.