UL Associates (ULA) provides high-quality executive search and leadership solutions for higher education, shaped by decades of experience in further education with FE Associates.
Our deep roots in further education give us unique insight into leadership through transformation, reform and strategic change, areas increasingly relevant to universities and higher education providers. At ULA, we bring this experience with a dedicated focus on Board, Chair, C-Suite, senior professional services, and specialist academic appointments. Our team combines expert search capability with deep HE knowledge, ensuring every appointment is high-quality, inclusive and strategically aligned.
Our Services
- Executive Search+ – Partnering with universities to place leaders who stay and succeed, providing guidance from shortlisting to onboarding.
- Governance & Board Appointments – Bespoke Board searches to build capable, diverse and values-aligned governance teams.
- Professorial & Named Chair Appointments – Connecting universities with outstanding academic and industry-linked leaders.
- Interim Leadership Support – Placing highly skilled interim leaders who can deliver immediate impact across academic and professional services roles.
We celebrate the life-changing work higher education delivers, transforming lives, driving innovation through research and supplying the talent pipeline that powers every sector of society. That is why we care deeply about placing the right leaders, not just at the top but across leadership roles, who foster cultures where people can thrive, collaborate, and deliver.
Our approach is thoughtful, inclusive, and aligned with the mission of higher education to transform lives and nurture potential.
For more information about who we are, what we do, and how we can support you, contact Elle Hurst at elle.hurst@ulassociates.co.uk.
