THE UNITE GROUP PLC Annual Report and Accounts 2024 89 BOARD TENURE Each of the Executive Directors has a rolling contract of employment with a 12-month notice period, while Non-Executive Directors are, subject to re-election by shareholders, appointed to the Board for a term of approximately three years. The adjacent chart shows the current tenure of the Non-Executive Directors (rounded up to the nearest year). 1 0 3 5 7 9 2 4 6 8 NED Tenure PROFESSIONAL ADVICE AND TRAINING Directors are given access to independent professional advice at the Company’s expense when the Directors deem it necessary in order for them to carry out their responsibilities. The Directors also have regular dialogue with, and direct access to, the advice and services of the Company Secretary, who ensures that Board processes and good corporate governance practices are followed. The Board considers it important that the Committee Chairs continue to receive sector and relevant functional training (such as on accounting, sustainability, corporate governance and Executive remuneration reporting developments) and accordingly the Committee Chairs attend relevant external seminars. The Board as a whole receives ongoing training on corporate governance and other relevant developments. BOARD INDUCTION On appointment to the Board, each Director takes part in a comprehensive and personalised induction programme. This induction is also supplemented with ongoing training throughout the year to ensure the Board is kept up-to-date with key legal, regulatory and industry updates. Any Director on appointment undertakes an induction programme following this framework: • The business and operations of the Group and the Higher Education sector • The role of the Board and matters reserved for its decisions • The terms of reference and membership of Board Committees • Powers delegated to those Committees • The Group’s corporate governance practices and procedures and the latest financial information about the Group • The legal and regulatory responsibilities as a Director and, specifically, as a Director and Chair of a listed company. As part of the induction programme, they meet with key senior leaders, so from the outset they have access to people throughout the organisation to help them form their own independent views on the Group, its performance and the sector we operate in. In addition, they meet with representatives of the Company’s key advisers. Arrangements are made for each Director to visit key locations to see our business operations and properties first-hand and the Higher Education institutions with which we partner. Richard Huntingford Ilaria del Beato Nicky Dulieu Ross Paterson Dame Shirley Pearce Tom Jackson Professor Sir Steve Smith Angela Jain