Key Takeaways
The traditional prospectus model is unsustainable — environmentally and economically
Colleges in the UK collectively spend an estimated £3.4 million each year printing prospectuses, generating nearly 48 million pages of paper. Despite this, over 1.5 million pages go straight to waste annually. Given that 87.6% of colleges acknowledge sustainability as a priority, the current reliance on heavy print runs is completely at odds with stated values. Cost-saving (the second-highest priority) is also being undermined by outdated printing practices.
There is a critical gap between intent and execution in prospectus strategy
Although almost all colleges believe the prospectus is vital for recruitment, more than 40% lack confidence in their current strategy. Tracking is virtually non-existent: 56% don’t monitor student engagement at all, and most colleges have no idea how many leads their prospectus generates. This blind spot suggests that while tradition drives decisions (“we’ve always done it this way” said 67%), it isn’t being backed up by meaningful data or clear ROI.
Digital transformation is misunderstood and underdeveloped
Around 90% of colleges say they have a “digital prospectus,” but this figure plummets to 12% when discounting simple PDFs. Worse, one-third of colleges not already digital have no plans to change. The sector is caught between recognising the need for change and clinging to legacy formats that neither meet modern student expectations nor provide the flexibility, trackability, and personalisation colleges now need.
What Next?
- Read our Case Studies
Learn how other CMN members have transformed their recruitment with Prospectus Plus. - Take Part in the Survey
Want to benchmark your prospectus efforts against the rest of the sector? Or want to find out how to outpace your competition? If you want an exclusive look at the research data, you’ll need to have taken part. Submit your answers today! - Join our Brain Trust
Each quarter, join other likeminded institutions to about prospectus journeys from around the world, and see what we’re working on. - Use our Calculator
Find how much you could save the planet (and your finances) by switching to Prospectus Plus. - Book a Demo
Prospectus Plus takes just 6 weeks to get set-up with, so there is still plenty of time to implement for this September if you act quick. Book a full demo with Nathan, if you are interested in joining our revolution. - Follow Prospectus Plus on LinkedIn
We’ll be posting more on this survey soon so it’s a great way to keep informed about our research. - Connect with Nathan on LinkedIn
Nathan posts videos on marketing, AI, sustainability and all things prospectuses… every week!
