University of Lancashire
The University of Lancashire is a UK higher education institution founded in 1828, serving 32,000 students and staff across campuses in Preston, Burnley, and Westlakes. It delivers undergraduate, postgraduate, apprenticeship, and CPD programs, generating over £300 million in annual turnover.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1828
- HeadquartersPreston West, Australia
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What University of Lancashire does
The University of Lancashire is a chartered UK higher education institution founded in 1828, headquartered in Preston with additional campuses in Burnley and Westlakes. It serves a combined community of approximately 32,000 students and staff, delivering undergraduate and postgraduate taught programs, postgraduate research, degree apprenticeships, and continuing professional development (CPD) short courses. The institution operates across four primary revenue streams: tuition fees from domestic and international students; research funding and grants from government bodies, research councils, and industry partners in health, digital technology, sustainability, and social policy; commercial services including Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, employer training, and facilities hire; and student accommodation. Core technology infrastructure consists of standard higher education systems — learning management platforms, student portals, and IT security — with no disclosed proprietary technology components. The university also operates a Pre-School Centre providing childcare for staff and students, and a wholly-owned subsidiary (University of Lancashire Resources Limited).
The institution pursues a multi-channel go-to-market strategy combining direct-to-consumer marketing through its website, social media, and clearing/registration processes with event-driven recruitment via open days, campus tours, and exhibitions. Distribution is delivered through campus-based instruction, online/digital learning, and channel partnerships with employers for degree apprenticeships. The university is a member of the North Western Universities Purchasing Consortium (NWUPC) for collaborative procurement and has formal partnerships with Flywire Corporation (payment processing), Windrush Initiatives CIC (community engagement), and Lancashire and South Cumbria Hospices Together (LSCHT) for a regional palliative-care academy. Brand recognition is anchored by nearly two centuries of operation, a Times 2023 "most affordable UK university" designation, and an Edufuturists Uprising 2023 University of the Year award.
University of Lancashire firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- University of Lancashire
- Legal name
- University of Lancashire
- Website
- https://lancashire.ac.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1828
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- The University of Lancashire is a UK higher education institution founded in 1828, serving 32,000 students and staff across campuses in Preston, Burnley, and Westlakes. It delivers undergraduate, postgraduate, apprenticeship, and CPD programs, generating over £300 million in annual turnover.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where University of Lancashire is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Preston West
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices3 records
Markets served
University of Lancashire business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Tuition fees: Revenue from domestic and international student tuition fees for undergraduate, postgraduate, and professional development courses.
- Research funding and grants: Funding from government bodies, research councils, and industry partners for research activities in health, digital technology, sustainability, and social policy.
- Commercial services and partnerships: Revenue from business support services, training and CPD for employers, knowledge transfer partnerships, and facilities hire.
- Student accommodation and facilities: Revenue from on-campus student accommodation and facility rentals.
- Procurement and supply chain: Annual procurement spend of approximately £128 million on goods, services and works including major capital programmes.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Weekly | Pre-School Centre - Full week under twos |
| Subscription | Weekly | Pre-School Centre - Full week over twos |
| Unit Pricing | Daily | Pre-School Centre - Daily rate under twos |
| Unit Pricing | Daily | Pre-School Centre - Daily rate over twos |
| Unit Pricing | Per session | Pre-School Centre - Morning session |
| Unit Pricing | Per session | Pre-School Centre - Afternoon session |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
University of Lancashire product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The University of Lancashire is a higher education institution delivering undergraduate, postgraduate taught, and postgraduate research programmes across multiple disciplines. It supplements degree programmes with degree apprenticeships that combine work-based learning with academic study, and offers continuing professional development (CPD) and short courses. Supporting services include an on-campus Pre-School Centre for staff and student children. The university operates campuses in Preston, Burnley, and Westlakes and serves a combined community of 32,000 students and staff.
Product overview
The University of Lancashire is a higher education institution offering a portfolio of educational products and services. Its core offerings include undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across multiple disciplines, supplemented by degree apprenticeships that combine work-based learning with academic study. The university also provides professional development and short courses (CPD) for continuing education. Supporting services include an on-campus Pre-School Centre for staff and student children. The institution operates campuses in Preston, Burnley, and Westlakes.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Higher Education Programmes Traditional undergraduate, postgraduate taught, and postgraduate research programmes across multiple disciplines, offered to UK and international students.
- Degree Apprenticeships Work-based learning programmes combining higher education with employment, enabling apprentices to earn while they study, delivered in partnership with employers.
- Professional Development and Short Courses Continuing professional development (CPD) courses and short courses for career advancement and skills development, available to individuals and employer partners.
- Pre-School Centre On-campus nursery providing childcare for children aged six months to four years, accommodating up to 90 children, available for university staff and students, with weekly, daily, and half-day session options.
Quantifiable outcome
- Contributing over £300 million annually to Lancashire's economy
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use University of Lancashire
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
University of Lancashire technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
University of Lancashire partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Flywire CorporationcoreFlywire is a payment technology company that provides the university's Student Financial Software (SFS). The software helps automate student payment processes, drive self-service, and improve working capital cycles. The university was recognized among nine U.K. institutions with 2026 awards for their implementation of Flywire solutions that delivered operational efficiency and revenue benefits, including a 20% reduction in payment processing time.
- Windrush Initiatives CICminorThe university and Windrush Initiatives CIC formalized a joint commitment to supporting Preston's Black and Mixed Heritage communities through a Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony.
- Lancashire and South Cumbria Hospices Together (LSCHT)corePartnership involving Universities of Lancashire and Cumbria and 10 regional hospices to launch the UK's first academy for hospice and palliative care workers in the North West. The Academy aims to address chronic workforce shortages and the absence of defined career pathways in hospice care by offering clinical and non-clinical training programmes from entry-level to advanced qualifications.
- North Western Universities Purchasing Consortium (NWUPC)coreThe university is a member of NWUPC, which operates under the banner of UK Universities Procurement Consortia (UKUPC). The consortium is dedicated to improving both the quality and level of collaborative procurement across the HE sector. The university uses the NETpositive Futures Supplier Engagement Tool developed by NWUPC.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
University of Lancashire competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- University of Wolverhampton: Post-1992 UK university with multiple campuses, degree apprenticeship provision, and a strong widening-access mission; comparable student scale and revenue band to the University of Lancashire.
- University of Hertfordshire: Large UK modern university offering a comparable portfolio of undergraduate, postgraduate, apprenticeship, and CPD programs with similar employer partnership structures.
- Leeds Beckett University: Northern England modern university of similar scale offering undergraduate, postgraduate, degree apprenticeships, and CPD, with a comparable regional employer engagement model and student population.
- University of Salford: Greater Manchester-based modern university with similar scale, regional economic role in the North West, and comparable degree apprenticeship and CPD portfolios.
- University of Sunderland: Northern UK modern university of comparable scale with similar regional economic role, broad undergraduate/postgraduate portfolio, and apprenticeship/CPD offerings.
- Edge Hill University: North West England modern university with comparable size, regional employer engagement focus, and a portfolio spanning undergraduate, postgraduate, and teacher training pathways.
- Manchester Metropolitan University: Large UK post-1992 (modern) university with a similar multi-campus footprint, broad undergraduate and postgraduate portfolio, strong regional economic role in the North West of England, and comparable scale in student numbers and revenue.
- Staffordshire University: UK post-1992 university with a similar student population size, multi-campus presence, and emphasis on employer engagement, degree apprenticeships, and applied research.
- University of Derby: UK modern university with similar scale, multi-campus operations, and focus on vocational/apprenticeship pathways alongside traditional academic programs.
- University of Huddersfield: UK modern university with a comparable mix of taught programs, research, and employer partnerships; similar scale in student numbers and focus on regional economic impact in the North of England.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
University of Lancashire social profiles
Digital presenceUniversity of Lancashire financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
University of Lancashire leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
University of Lancashire subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
University of Lancashire funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
University of Lancashire M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about University of Lancashire
What does University of Lancashire do?
The University of Lancashire is a higher education institution delivering undergraduate, postgraduate taught, and postgraduate research programmes across multiple disciplines. It supplements degree programmes with degree apprenticeships that combine work-based learning with academic study, and offers continuing professional development (CPD) and short courses. Supporting services include an on-campus Pre-School Centre for staff and student children. The university operates campuses in Preston, Burnley, and Westlakes and serves a combined community of 32,000 students and staff.
Is University of Lancashire a public or private company?
University of Lancashire is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was University of Lancashire founded?
University of Lancashire was founded in 1828. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is University of Lancashire based?
University of Lancashire is headquartered in Preston West, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does University of Lancashire make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Tuition fees are the primary driver. The others are research funding and grants, commercial services and partnerships, student accommodation and facilities and procurement and supply chain.
Who are University of Lancashire's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are University of Wolverhampton, University of Hertfordshire, Leeds Beckett University, University of Salford, University of Sunderland, Edge Hill University, Manchester Metropolitan University, Staffordshire University, University of Derby and University of Huddersfield.
Does University of Lancashire have an API?
No public API is recorded for University of Lancashire.