Public Private Partnerships and the Private Finance Initiative
Our policy is to support the Private Finance Initiative (PFI), and other innovative forms of procurement falling under the heading of Public/Private Partnership (PPP). This flows from our role in promoting good value for money. PPP covers procurement methods such as:
- joint ventures
- innovative ways of contracting out services
- levering in private finance
- selling services into wider markets.
We expect institutions to base their investment decisions on seeking best value for money, and we have encouraged them to consider PPP and PFI solutions as ways to achieve this.
Guidance on good practice
Some of our publications are published in hard copy, while others are published only as web-based documents.
- Practical Guide to PFI for Higher Education Institutions (HEFCE 2004/11)
- PFI Case Studies (HEFCE 98/71)
- The re-development of the Cruciform Building (HEFCE 99/43)
- Student accommodation projects - a guide to PFI contracts (HEFCE 00/47)
- PFI case studies - Projects for technical support services (HEFCE 02/05)
- Case study: Nottingham Trent University - hotel, gymnasium and conference facilities
- Case study: Oxford Brookes University - design, build and management of 750 en-suite bedrooms
- Case study: University of Hertfordshire - sports and residences project
- Case study: Royal Northern College of Music - provision of a hall of residence
Advice to the private sector
We provide a point of contact for private sector bodies, to explain how the funding arrangements for higher education (HE) offer opportunities for private investment. We have published a guide, 'Private investment in higher education' (HEFCE 98/18). HEFCE does not however hold information about potential PFI activity in the higher education sector.
Direct advice
Direct advice is available for higher education institutions on the opportunities for Public Private Partnerships. If you have a project which you think might be suitable for PPP or PFI, and would like to discuss it informally before proceeding further, please contact us.
Students seeking financial support should note that we do not provide funding for individual students. For advice about funding for students see our frequently asked questions.
Other sources of advice
The Government has created an operational taskforce, acting on behalf of HM Treasury, based in Partnerships UK. The taskforce has set up a helpdesk to assist public sector partners with operational PFI issues, tel 020 7273 8356, e-mail operationaltaskforce@partnershipsuk.org.uk.
HM Treasury provides access to a wide range of information about the Private Finance Initiative in the UK.
Last updated 16 July 2009