Southern Universities Management Services
Analysis
Southern Universities Management Services is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Reading. It was registered in November 1994, 32 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, which this site groups under education and training. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 02732244). It says it provides services and provides advocacy/advice/information.
In the financial year ending July 2025, Southern Universities Management Services reported income of £4.8m and spending of £4.8m, spending 99% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from July 2021 to July 2025, income grew from £2.5m to £4.8m (+97%), an average of +18% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to July 2023, when income rose by 32%. Over the whole period it spent 90% of the income it received.
Among 21,402 England and Wales charities whose main cause is education and training and that reported income, Southern Universities Management Services sits at the 97th percentile: it is larger than about 97% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 98th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Marlborough House School (£4.8m), Alton Convent School Charity (£4.9m) and The University of Plymouth Students' Union (£4.8m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 97% and investments 2.9%. Charitable activities took 96% of spending and raising funds 0.0%. Reserves of £3.3m would cover about 8 months of spending at that rate. It employed 45 people.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Charitable activities 97%
- Investments 2.9%
In the charity's own words
To promote the efficiency of the administration of educational charities in direct pursuit of their objectives by:(a) advice, training and information about financial planning, effective management procedures, and the best use of available resources, and(b) other assistance appropriate to the provision of financial planning, procedural advice and resource management.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Marlborough House School | Cranbrook | £4.8m |
| Alton Convent School Charity | Alton | £4.9m |
| The University of Plymouth Students' Union | Devon | £4.8m |
| Lancaster University Students' Union | Lancaster | £4.9m |