What we do

…and how we can help

 

  • Having established the public affairs functions at two of the UK’s leading universities, founded the Russell Group Political Affairs Network, managed international government relations for the University of Nottingham in the UK, China and Malaysia, Alex Favier is recognised in both the UK and internationally as one of the university sector’s leading political affairs practitioners. He has led multi-award winning initiatives such as the Global University Summit, Nottingham in Parliament Day and the University of Nottingham’s Global Research and Reputation Campaign

    Favier Ltd. can support your institution in developing an ambitious, effective and outcome-driven approach to political affairs tailored to your strategic priorities and distinct local, national and global contexts.

    Services include public affairs reviews, support to establish political affairs functions and programmes, influence audits and advice to senior leaders on how to build a more strategic approach to managing partners and stakeholders.

  • With responsibility for developing and launching a new £33bn Midlands Investment Portfolio in 2022, leading on Global and Political Affairs for the University of Nottingham in the UK, China and Malaysia, serving as a member of the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education’s Global Commission and as founder and Co-Chair of the new UK Universities Overseas Campus Network, Alex Favier has extensive experience, connections and strategic understand of international relations and reputation management.

    Favier Ltd. can help your institution develop a global engagement strategy driven by a clear and up-to-date understanding of the interplay between international reputation, partnerships and government funding. We work with specialist to help you plan for and manage the impact of geopolitical events on your domestic and global operations; leveraging better relationships with UK and international governments.

    Services for universities include strategy development support for global engagement international research and reputation. We also work with places to develop international trade, inward investment, visitor economy and civic soft-power strategies fit for the post-Pandemic age.

  • Having helped establish the UPP Foundation’s Civic University Commission, Alex Favier led the development of the flagship Universities for Nottingham civic partnership which was the UK’s first formal Civic Agreement and the first to be produced jointly by two universities. Alex set-up and led the University of Nottingham’s Institute for Policy and Engagement and recently established the Midlands Universities as drivers of trade and investment pilot with the support of Government.

    Favier Ltd. can help your institution understand and define its civic missions - moving from an incidental to an intentional approach to place. We facilitate and broker the conversations needed to ensure civic strategies are aligned to the resources institutions have and the priorities they share with local partners.

    Services include strategy development, implementation advice and campaign-work to help institutions articulate their research and innovation strengths; getting their place-based opportunities in front of funders and Government.

  • Favier Ltd has a track-record of successfully improving global rankings performance and driving global reputation in research intensive institutions.

    We provide universities with tailored, practical and realistic advice on how to improve performance and avoid wasting money.

    Rankings and league tables have never been more significant to the perceptions and decision-making of international students, their parents and aggregators (agents) in key markets such as China and the Middle East.

    However, the changing methodologies, commercial imperatives and complexity of the rankings agencies and their owners can be a difficult world to navigate.

    Favier Ltd can help universities improve their ranking performance without diluting their strategic intent. We have an exceptional understanding of the rankings methodology, but also an appreciation of the realities of implementation in today’s universities.

    VIEW OUR GLOBAL REPUTATION AND RANKINGS PROSPECTUS

Examples of previous work

  • Midlands Investment Portfolio

    As Director of International Relations for the Midlands Engine, Alex worked with 60+ partners across the Midlands and three UK Government departments to create the £33bn Midlands Investment Portfolio, presenting 80+ outstanding capital and FDI opportunities from the Region. It was launched with the support of Ministers to an audience of investors, developers and partners at the UK Real Estate and Infrastructure Forum in May 2022.

  • Nottingham in Parliament Day

    Alex Favier created and lead the 2016 “Nottingham in Parliament Day” integrated communications, events and public affairs initiative. 2,952 guests attended 45 separate events with over 140 speakers and performers in 28 separate venues across the Parliamentary Estate. The events were developed by over 100 partners, with over £300,000 of sponsorship and in-kind support generated. Over 800 policymakers, including 150 parliamentarians and their staff, and 50+ diplomatic representatives from 20+ nations were involved in the Day’s programme. Secured 6 national and international awards.

  • Universities for Nottingham

    At the University of Nottingham, Alex Favier led the development of the Universities for Nottingham initiative; a flagship civic partnership between Nottingham’s two universities that included a joint economic, social and impact evaluation, complementarity mapping and the development of the UK’s first formal Civic Agreement signed with anchor institutions following the publication of the Civic University Commission. The UfN partnership has recently secured funding from Research England to deliver £5.1m civic-focused PHDs.

  • University of Southampton Civic Strategy

    Alex Favier helped the University of Southampton with the development of their Civic Strategy in 2020, undertaking research within the institution about civic priorities, before presenting this alongside benchmarking and positioning case studies at a workshop for the University community.

  • Midlands Investment Potential of Clusters

    Favier Ltd led a coalition of partners (CBI Economics, Beauhurst, The Data City, WavTeq) in a trail-blazing programme of work to map clusters across the Midlands and evaluate their investment potential. Alex Favier authored the final report, which was launched at UKREIIF in May 2023. Favier Ltd has subsequently worked for the Midlands Engine in developing the ‘deep-dive’ programme, which will focus on 8 sectoral clusters in partnership with Government, Industry, universities and regional agencies in 2024-25.

  • Universities as drivers of trade and investment

    Favier Ltd has led the Universities as Drivers of Trade and Investment Programme, a multi-year, multi-funder programme on behalf of Midlands Innovation and Midlands Enterprise Universities. The Programme has been funded by the Midlands Engine Partnership, the Department for Levelling-Up, Housing and Communities, GREAT, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, UKRI and the AHRC. It has shaped national policy and will see a two year global campaign launched to promote investment in university R&D from Australia, Germany, South Korea, Singapore and the US.

  • Invest in UK University R&D - Midlands Campaign

    Alex Favier is the Co-Investigator on the DSIT/UKRI co-funded ‘Invest in UK University R&D - Midlands Campaign’ - where he leads a coalition of seventeen universities and regional partners as the Global Campaign Director. More on the Campaign here

  • CASE Global Leaders Programme

    CASE Global Leaders Programme

    Favier Ltd have partnered with the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education to launch and deliver a new Professional Development experience for university leaders seeking excellence in global reputation, geopolitics, communications, branding and advancement. With seven cohorts running between the UK, US, Australia, New Zealand and Canada between 2025-2028.