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Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014 2 Annual Report and Financial Statements | 2013 The Department of Chemistry’s flagship teaching and research building opened in September 2014 Chair’s foreword e have enjoyed a further successful University Council will finalise the strategic academic and financial year at the directions during this coming year. It is clear University with record numbers that excellence in teaching and research will of students joining us and a record remain at the heart of the University’s forward Wfinancial surplus. We also welcomed our new direction, but we expect new initiatives to be Vice-Chancellor, Professor Koen Lamberts, in part of the plan. January 2014 to provide renewed leadership for I would like to express, on behalf of my the future. Council colleagues, our pleasure and thanks to It is now appropriate to develop a new all our academic and support staff who have strategy for the University. We have completed dealt admirably with the pace of change affecting a major expansion phase over the last ten the University, particularly in relation to the years and now seek to meet the challenges of increased undergraduate student intake and, new student entry rules and funding, and the simultaneously, the final stages of the Research tighter research funding climate. The wider Excellence Framework submission. Challenging University community has engaged energetically times are likely to continue, but I would like in consulting on the initial drafts, and the them all to know that their efforts on behalf Vice-Chancellor, his senior colleagues and the of the University are sincerely appreciated. Sir Christopher O’Donnell Chair of Council Annual Report and Financial Statements | 2014 1 Contents Introduction 1 The University’s year 2 Strategic and operating review 4 Key performance indicators 6 Corporate governance 9 Statement of Council’s accounting responsibilities 11 Research funders 12 Benefactors 14 Financial report 16 Independent auditor’s report 19 Statement of principal accounting policies 20 Financial statements 23 Consolidated five year results 47 Introduction s I approach the first anniversary of One of our most significant scientific my arrival at the University of York, breakthroughs came this year with the discovery my sincere thanks are due to my by Professor Gideon Davies and Professor Paul predecessor, Professor Brian Cantor, Walton of a new family of enzymes, which Aand Dr Jane Grenville, who was Acting allows breakdown of materials such as plant Vice-Chancellor at the end of 2013. Their stems, wood chips and cardboard waste, as well stewardship has helped to ensure York’s position as other tricky polysaccharides. This process as a leading research-intensive university. in turn allows fermentation to bioethanol, The University has had another successful and thence to second-generation biofuel year. Among many highlights, I would mention development. Groundbreaking research and Biology’s Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, industrial collaboration in this area is driving led by Professor Simon McQueen-Mason, the University’s growing reputation as a world winning 50 per cent of the available ‘Longer leader in biorenewables and agricultural and Larger’ BBSRC grants in this area, totalling technology research. £10m, for projects in both agriculture and The University’s strong performance has the search for alternatives to fossil fuels. provided the background for the development A collaboration between the Universities of of a new University Strategy, which has been the York, Leeds and Sheffield, led by Professor Mark focus of attention in recent months. Universities Ormrod, received a £19m award from the Arts have to work in a complex and unpredictable and Humanities Research Council to create the context; recent changes have had a profound White Rose College of the Arts and Humanities. impact on how English universities are funded, There was also success for the Centre for on how they are regulated, and on how they Reviews and Dissemination, which has been work with different partners and stakeholders. awarded more than £6m this year, including The University’s response to these changes will a £5.25m grant with the Centre for Health be critical to its future. We will remain focused on Economics to act as one of the National Institute excellence as the key to our success, particularly for Health Research centres of excellence for in our core mission of teaching and research. health technology assessment, confirming We are in a good position to thrive and York’s strong reputation in evidence-informed I look forward to seeing York achieve even decision-making. greater success. Professor Koen Lamberts Vice-Chancellor 2 Annual Report and Financial Statements | 2014 The University’s year This academic and financial year culminated with the final celebrations of the University’s 50th Anniversary, a chance to reflect on strong academic success and international recognition for excellent teaching and research. Closing the chapter on this promising first half-century, the University is now seizing the opportunity to refresh strategy and focus on its core business of research and teaching of the highest quality. he year 2013/14 saw submission of leap forward this year with a significant received a £19m award from the Arts and the University’s contribution to the discovery in Chemistry. Professor Gideon Humanities Research Council (AHRC) to Research Excellence Framework Davies and Professor Paul Walton have create the White Rose College of the Arts (REF– the assessment of the identified a new family of enzymes that and Humanities. This will recruit and Tquality of the University’s research), break down all types of bio-matter, train more than 300 fully-funded doctoral including for the first time, measures of facilitating fermentation to bioethanol and students over five years. The funding is ‘impact’. This milestone, towards the end second-generation biofuel development. designed to foster a more collaborative of 2013, coincided with the retirement Innovative research and international approach to doctoral training. The of Professor Brian Cantor after 11 years expertise of this type will underpin York’s College will work closely with leading as Vice-Chancellor. The new calendar BioVale initiative, providing an agri-tech external organisations from the creative year began with a new Vice-Chancellor, platform to support work with industrial arts, media and heritage sectors to equip Professor Koen Lamberts, and the launch and other partners, putting the University high-achieving individuals with the skills of consultations on University Strategy and the region on the map for global and experience to become leaders in their and a new Research Strategy – the latter energy, crop and environmental expertise. chosen fields. led by York’s new Pro-Vice-Chancellor York has also attracted multi-million Also in the Humanities, two of our art for Research, Professor Deborah Smith. pound funding for science doctoral historians have led on work for national York is a research-intensive university, training programmes from the Research exhibitions: ‘Mondrian and his Studios’ with a growing international reputation Councils (EPSRC, NERC, BBSRC) to at Tate Liverpool was curated by Professor in many areas across the academic establish new opportunities in computer Michael White, while Dr Amanda Lillie disciplines. Our research informs our gaming, plasma and fusion research, and curated the National Gallery’s ‘Building teaching, benefiting the high-quality environmental and biological sciences, the Picture: Architecture in Italian students we recruit from around the while an innovative €3.5m award from Renaissance Painting’. Another major world, and our research partnerships are the European Union will train early career project, run by Tim Ayers and Dr John supporting enhanced growth externally. researchers in new technologies to tackle Cooper, is analysing the 800-year visual As a member of the Russell Group, our aim urban pollution around the globe. and political culture of St Stephen’s Chapel is to be academically excellent, first and Our science departments have once in the Palace of Westminster, supported by foremost. Increased research income this more excelled in winning Athena SWAN a major AHRC grant of nearly £1m. year, coupled with research highlights awards: having been the first University The student recruitment landscape across the institution, has reinforced to win a gold award, we now hold two, continues to provide challenges not only our strength in this area. for Biology and Chemistry. In addition, for York but for UK Higher Education Major scientific breakthroughs during we have the rare accolade of having all more widely. For UK and EU students, the year have addressed some of the our science departments now accredited the introduction of higher tuition fees most important global issues of our time: in this visionary and practical scheme, for home undergraduates has not had the climate change, lack of water supply, which advocates for women’s careers in seismic effect some predicted. However, fuel poverty, the state of our oceans science and leads to fairer practice in the Higher Education funding remains and the depletion of the ozone layer. science workplace for everyone. the subject of political interest and the The University has established itself Meanwhile, junior colleagues in our impact of other changes in the education as an international leader in industrial Social Science departments are making system have yet to be understood. For biotechnology and bioenergy, playing a the headlines: Dr Charlotte O’Brien (Law) example, we may see changes in GCSE major role in three networks funded by and Dr Liam Clegg (Politics) have both and A level subject choices affecting the the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences won prestigious early career awards. distribution of demand between different Research Council (BBSRC) and designed Dr O’Brien won an Economic and Social subjects in coming years. At postgraduate to boost interactions between academia Research Council Future Research Leader level, recruitment to taught Masters and industry.

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