Jisc-negotiated licensing delivers £500 million in member savings
License agreements secure critical savings as financial pressure continues to mount.
We're proud to confirm that our licensing services delivered over £500 million in savings for UK education and research institutions in 2023/24. The savings were achieved through centrally negotiated agreements that reduce costs, streamline procurement, and support digital transformation across the sector. This milestone figure reflects our commitment to securing cost-effective, high-impact solutions at a time when financial pressures across the sector remain acute.
Adding value through strategic agreements
We negotiate on behalf of the sector to secure the best possible terms on licensed software and digital content across research, education, and enterprise, helping institutions access essential tools and saving time, money, and administrative effort. Effective licensing is critical for UK education and research, ensuring institutions have affordable access to high-quality digital solutions tailored to their needs.
Currently, Jisc licensing supports over 450 agreements with major providers including Adobe, Oracle Java, Microsoft, Crowdstrike, and academic publishers such as Elsevier.
Working with and for the sector
By centralising negotiations, we streamline the procurement process for our members, reducing duplication of effort and administrative burden. Institutions benefit from highly discounted pricing, achieved by leveraging collective sector spend to negotiate significantly reduced fees. This centralised approach also ensures due diligence and compliance with funder policies, regulations, and standards, helping institutions avoid additional costs and bureaucracy. Furthermore, model licences are tailored to the needs of UK education and research, enhancing efficiency and consistency across the sector.
Sector-led negotiations are governed by strategic and expert groups convened by Universities UK (UUK) and developed in partnership with key professional bodies. This ensures that licensing decisions reflect the real needs and priorities of institutions.
For the vendors working with us, there is a trusted single route into UK education and research, and the benefit of our sector knowledge and expertise to help shape products and services that align with member priorities.
Caren Milloy, director of licensing, Jisc, comments:
“We’re proud to have delivered over £500 million in savings through strategic, sector-led licensing. In a time of intense financial pressure, our negotiated agreements – built on collaboration across the sector - provide value, foster trust, and support the long-term sustainability of UK education and research. As we continue to develop further efficiencies, we remain committed to making procurement even more streamlined, collaborative, and impactful for our members.”
Liam Earney, managing director, higher education and research, Jisc, adds:
“This milestone figure highlights the impact of collaboration and the critical role of trust and partnership between Jisc and the sector in addressing sector challenges. Against a backdrop of significant financial pressures, we are focused on helping institutions across the UK manage the cost of digital tools and applications – cost-effectively, efficiently, and at scale. These savings reflect our ongoing commitment to support UK teaching, research, and innovation through sector-led collaboration”.
Find out more about licensing.