Transparency data

SLC Board meeting minutes April 2025

Updated 14 November 2025

1. Attendees

1.1 Present

• Peter Lauener (PL) - Chair

• Chris Larmer (CL) - Chief Executive Officer

• Natasha Toothill (NT) - Non-Executive Director

• Gary Page (GP) - Non-Executive Director

• Charlotte Moar (CM)- Non-Executive Director

• Stephen Tetlow (ST) - Non-Executive Director

• Margaret Ollerenshaw (MO) - Non-Executive Director

• Stephen Marston (SM) - Non-Executive Director

• Janette Campbell (JCA) - Non-Executive Director

• Mandy Beech (MB) - Non-Executive Director

• David Wallace (DW) - Deputy Chief Executive Officer

• Audrey McColl (AMC) - CFO

• Gary Womersley (GW) - Company Secretary

1.2 Also in attendance

• Anne Rimmer (AR) - DfE (by videoconference)

• Courtney Brightwell (CB) – DfE (by videoconference)

• Victoria Bowman (VB) – Scottish Government (by videoconference)

• Chris Williams (CW) - Welsh Government (by videoconference)

• Alan Scott (AS) – Department for the Economy NI (by videoconference)

• Jackie Currie (JC) – Executive Director, Business Operations

• Nauman Dar (ND) – Executive Director, Change, Data and Repayments

• Derek Ross (DR) - Executive Director, HE and FE Reform

• Gillian Brydie (GB) - Executive Director, People

• Helen Bogan (HB) – Head of Governance and Planning

• Stuart Brydson (SB) - Board Secretary (Secretariat)

• Adam Treslove (AT) - Head of Corporate Affairs (for Item 6.1 only) (by videoconference)

• Nicholas McDermott (NMC) – Chief of Staff (for item 5.1 only)

• Margaret McMullen (MMC) – Director of Finance (for item 5.2 only) (by videoconference)

• Scott McEwan (SMC) – Financial Performance and Analysis Manager (for item 5.2 only) (by videoconference)

• David Thomson (DT) – Head of Operational Readiness (for item 6.1 only)

2. Apologies

• Jonny O’Callaghan (NI)

• Jason Dunham (SLC)

3. FOI Notice

Where asterisks (*) appear, these sections have been excluded from the minutes before placing on the website as the subject under discussion falls within one or more of the exemptions contained in Part II of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and can be reasonably withheld.        

4. Chairman’s Opening Remarks / Directors’ Matters / Declarations of Interest

PL welcomed everyone to the meeting and especially BMO who was attending on behalf of JD, and BMI who was attending today as an observer as part of the 2025 Board Effectiveness Review.  Apologies from JOC and JD were noted.

PL noted that this was ST and CM’s last SLC Board meeting. 

Declarations of Interest

No new Declarations of Interest were noted.

5. Chair Update

5.1 Update from the Chair on relevant matters

PL noted that the delayed SLC budget had now been finalised, and the budget letter received.  The process to complete the SLC Annual Business Plan would now proceed, with final approval having been delegated by the Board to PL, GP, and TT.

PL highlighted the ‘Leaning In’ that Board members and attendees had joined, prior to the Board meeting, with the Digital Products Improvement and Support team.  The Board had been impressed by the expertise of the team and their ability to spot and fix issues at pace.  

6. Strategic items

6.1 CEO Report

AT and NMC joined the meeting.

CL introduced the CEO Report, highlighting the key areas of risk opinion, customer, shareholder, colleague, and performance. 

RISK OPINION

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Given the SOS’s recent statements and action for the Public Sector Fraud Authority (PSFA) to coordinate the Government’s response to suspected fraud, CL had written to the DfE Permanent Secretary and other PAC witnesses to consider on what more could be done.  PL noted that it was helpful to take stock at this point, especially with the PSFA now involved.

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CUSTOMER

Academic cycle

JCU explained that, although the AY24-25 cycle was not yet complete, a further £9bn had been paid out to students and providers, of the £24bn that was expected to be paid this year.  The 2025-26 cycle had seen a different application profile, with applications arriving more quickly, allowing for a steadier processing flow, which would help ‘flatten the peak’.  In response to a question from the Board JCU highlighted targeted customer communications by Customer Experience colleagues as having made a step change in earlier application arrival.

Turn Off Print and Multi-Disciplinary Team

CL noted the turn off print initiative had resulted in a better customer experience and decreased cost.  Responding to a comment from the Board, DW explained that colleagues had been made aware of turn off print through a dedicated learning session.  DW also noted that hard copy correspondence was still available for customers who requested it.

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DW also noted that turn off print had clear Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) benefits and was just one element of wider efforts in SLC to promote sustainability.  DW noted that there was an annual ARC Assurance Report on Property and that this report would highlight the positive activity delivered by SLC including no use of gas across the SLC estate and the installation of bee hives on the roof of 10 Clyde Place. 

CL advised that the multi-disciplinary team pilot was now up and running and progressing well.  ELT had scheduled a lean-in with the team to consider how the pilot could help inform acceleration of the digital strategy ahead of Enable. 

SHAREHOLDER

Budget and Enable

CL thanked CB and the team at DfE for confirming the FY25-26 budget.  This would allow for the completion of the Business Plan and APRA targets and for SLC to focus on delivering its priorities.

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In relation to Enable, CB noted the HMT visit to Darlington and how linking Enable to wider government strategies would be beneficial.

CL highlighted the progress made on Enable, thanking CB for his support.  CL noted that Enable was for all shareholders and he and ND were meeting with all Devolved Administrations this week and next.

Alternative Student Finance (ASF)

CL explained that he was due to meet with Baroness Smith, ASF campaigners, and Lord Sharkey at the Minister’s ASF working group.  The agenda would focus on DfE readiness work, Sharia certification work, and communications and stakeholder engagement plans.

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COLLEAGUE

CL noted the upcoming retirement of Paul Smith, Head of Partner Services, in May.  CL noted his sincere thanks to Paul for his 27 years of service with SLC, noting he was instrumental in supporting the HE and FE sectors.  AR added her thanks to Paul for his valuable contribution to SLC during his notable tenure.

CL also thanked CM and ST for their valuable contribution to the SLC Board.

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Leap of Faith and Skills Assessment

Responding to a question from the Board, GB explained that Leap of Faith had been available to colleagues for a number of years and was now linked to Career Pathways and offered on an ‘always on’ basis.   Colleagues could use the initiative to build skills and knowledge and develop their career.

GB also noted that all colleagues were being asked to self-assess their current skills as part of strategic workforce planning.  The assessment would form a skills baseline which SLC could use to understand current or future skills gaps.  GB noted that there would be a deep dive on this work at the May RemCo and all NEDs have been invited to attend this session.   JCU added that early feedback on skills assessment from frontline colleagues had been positive.    

PERFORMANCE

CL highlighted that nine of the 11 APRA measures were green, and applauded the team effort it had taken to achieve this.  CL noted the safe and robust academic cycle, with £24bn expected to have been paid out by the end of May.  CL flagged the progress made on DSA with the one stop shop, increased customer satisfaction, and commercial framework.  CL also highlighted the excellent work on protecting taxpayer funding, with £45.5m saved this year. 

The Board welcomed the Cost to Serve metrics reported in the CPD, noting that how the data will be used and setting targets of where want to get to would be important considerations.  ST suggested that the metrics should be used to demonstrate productivity.  CL confirmed that the metrics were a start not an end point and DR would continue work to refine reporting.  CL also noted that increased efficiency was a core intended outcome of Enable.

In summary PL noted that the Board took assurance that the key issues, although challenging, were being well managed.  The academic cycle 24/25 was nearly fully and safely delivered and there had been a positive start to the 25/26 Academic Cycle.  PL also noted the FY24-25 APRA outturn with nine out of the 11 APRA targets green.  Welcoming the Cost to Serve metrics, PL noted the Board’s view that these metrics should be linked to productivity and efficiency and that DR would continue to lead work on this. 

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AT and NMC left the meeting.

6.2 CFO Report

MMC and SMC joined the meeting.

2024-25

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AMC highlighted that the Catalyst savings outstanding balance had been met, bringing the total saving in FY2024-25 to £6m.

2025-26

AMC confirmed that the FY25-26 budget had now been received. 

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AMC highlighted that expected Catalyst savings of £4.7m were currently included in the budget.  The Customer Operations funding allocation would allow for maintenance of FY24-25 service levels, whilst incorporating service improvements through people, process and technology enhancements. 

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In summary PL noted that the Board took assurance that SLC finances were understood and well managed.  PL noted the Board’s thanks to DfE for confirming the budget.

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MMC and SCM left the meeting.

7. Directors’ Reports

7.1 DSA Reforms

DT introduced DSA Reforms, noting that the project was nearing completion.  The final stage of the Reforms work was the system-to-system links which would facilitate data sharing between SLC and suppliers, removing the burden from customers.  DT noted that the Reforms project had delivered both customer and costs benefits.   As Board was aware, customer journey times had been an issue through FY24-25, but SLC was confident that the new service model can and would deliver better outcomes.

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CL explained that resource allocation was being managed through multi-skilling to help support peaks and troughs. 

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DT highlighted that a fraud risk assessment had been carried out last year and that SLC retained approval of eligibility for funding and equipment type. 

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In summary PL noted it was good to see continued progress, with a better customer experience and better value for taxpayer money.  He underlined that despite the challenges, a better service had been delivered.   PL noted that he and Chris had met Lord Blunkett in recent weeks and he remained very positive about DSA reforms.

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8. Governance

8.1 Minutes of meeting held on 1 December

The minute of the 27 March meeting was approved as an accurate record.

8.2 Matters arising from previous meetings

The matters arising document was approved as accurate.

8.3 Board ToR and Code of Conduct

The Board noted that the review of the ToR would be deferred until after the Board Effectiveness Review, with PL encouraging colleagues to look at the ToR ahead of engaging with the BER process.   The Board endorsed its Code of Conduct.

9. Any other business

PL thanked CM and ST for the significant and valuable contribution they had made to SLC during their tenure.   PL noted that CM had built a very strong and effective ARC, bringing knowledge from both public and private sectors and championing ‘path to green’ thinking and focus within SLC. PL noted the different way of looking at issues that ST brought to the Board, with his focus on customer outcomes always at the forefront.  As Chair of TOC, ST championed clarity and focus on the technology strategy and been a huge help to the Executive in developing Enable.

9.1 Date of Next Meeting

The next formal meeting was confirmed as being at 10:00 on Thursday 26 June 2025 from the Darlington Boardroom and by Teams.

There being no other business the meeting ended at 12:55.