Matt Hutnell, Director of Santander UK, talking to the group

The University of Exeter welcomes Santander UK

Senior representatives from Santander UK visited the University of Exeter on 12 April to meet with staff and students, and to see how the support from the partnership is benefiting the institution’s work.

Nathan Bostock, CEO of Santander UK and Matt Hutnell, Director of Santander UK, along with colleagues, met with the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Steve Smith on the Streatham campus.

Santander UK has provided considerable philanthropic support to the University of Exeter since 2009, with the total amount passing £1.1 million last year.

The funding supports a number of key areas, including the ‘Think, Try, Do’ programme for student entrepreneurs, international internships, Students’ Guild awards, and sports facilities.

Students and alumni who have benefited from Santander UK’s support also attended the reception, including the founders of Sancho’s Dress, a sustainable clothing distributor who now employ another Exeter intern, the President of the Entrepreneur Society and a current sports scholar.

Jonathan Snicker, Head of Philanthropy at the University of Exeter, said: "Santander UK’s tremendous generosity has touched the lives of so many of our students and alumni, providing opportunities for Exeter students across a whole range of activities, including international mobility awards and scholarships, SME internships and support for our budding entrepreneurs.

“We are incredibly grateful for the continued support and the impact that it is having and we look forward to working together for the benefit of Exeter students for years to come.”

Santander, through its Santander Universities division, maintains partnerships with over 1,200 academic institutions in 20 countries. Santander Universities was introduced in the UK in 2007 and the bank is already collaborating with over 80 British Universities and Higher Education Institutions, with agreements focused on promoting international exchange, entrepreneurial activities and the mobility of students and researchers within the network.

Date: 27 April 2018