In a piece published to coincide with the launch of UPP’s first Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) sustainability report, Richard outlines the value in reporting on sustainability, social value or civic engagement through a set of externally accredited standards - offering authenticity and trust in what you are presenting.

Richard co-edited an essay collection with Professor Sir Chris Husbands in memory of Lord Bob Kerslake, Chair of the UPP Foundation’s Civic University Commission (2018-19), who died in 2023. The collection features over 40 essayists from across the political spectrum and across different sectors – including education, business, healthcare, local government, think tanks, charities and the arts – who all advocate for universities to have a stronger voice in place-making.

Richard writes regularly for higher education media including Times Higher Education, Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI),  Wonkhe, Research Professional and University Business.

In this piece, he co-authors an article for The Times with Professor Lee Elliot Major OBE on the value of university-led tutoring for raising attainment, improving student employability and enhancing civic engagement (the win-win-win model).

Richard authored a debate paper for the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI), in which he argued that criticism of recent higher education expansion stemmed from having a university sector that benefits the professional classes more than those from working-class backgrounds.

To overcome this, he called for the idea we should adopt the idea of the One Nation University, which is a concept based on: spreading opportunity; reducing division; and building community. 

Richard and Professor Graham Galbraith CBE, the current Vice-Chancellor of the University of Portsmouth, co-wrote a paper for the Leadership Foundation (now part of Advance HE), on international student recruitment agents. They argued that the UK should move towards a sector-wide system of self-regulation to improve the quality of advice to potential students and reduce the risk of unethical practice.

Richard was a guest on the popular ‘My Imaginary University’ podcast, hosted by the former Registrar at the University of Nottingham, Dr Paul Greatrix.

Paul describes the podcast as ‘a sort of Desert Island Universities concept but without the desert island, the music, the book or the luxury.’ Richard explains that his imaginary university is inspired by James Timpson, the former CEO of Timpson Group, known for their outstanding approach to social value.