The agreements will give the opportunity to develop and expand on plans for collaborative outreach and, although not as clearly expressed, on student retention and success which will give practitioners an additional opportunity to highlight the access and participation priorities and practice both internally and externally to their institution.

We would encourage and advise practitioners to refer to the free resources on our Action on Access website (OFFA has indicated their usefulness by citing these in their guidance) as part of the preparation of institutional Access Agreements  – the ‘Higher Education Progression Framework’, the report ’Building Student engagement and belonging…’ (and Briefings) from the Paul Hamlyn Retention (What Works?) programme, our ‘Social Mobility through Briefings’ series, as well as our ‘Review of Widening Participation Strategic Assessments’ still useful though pre-Access Agreements.

In addition to these and the many other web-based resources available through the Action on Access web-site we can also provide direct to institutions a range of bespoke developmental services covering all aspects of the new Access Agreements Guidance. Through our extensive Associates network and long expertise we can provide the best consultancy and advice to inform your new access agreement. For information and initial advice contact Action on Access at contact@actiononacess.org .

We will however be working in somewhat different ways as, like the sector as whole we are constrained by some reductions in our funding, but are excited by:

• new opportunities to work across the UK as well as in England and Northern Ireland
• work with our new host NIACE to develop and expand our support to those working with part-time and adult learners in HE
• our new Action on Access Associates Network
• our freedom from constraints in the past arising out of our major funding source being the HEFCE.

Further information on the AoA Associates is available in the Associates Network area here