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 TIME COMMITMENT Non-Executive Directors are expected to commit approximately 20 days per annum to the business of the Group. We have reviewed the responsibilities of all Directors and are satisfied that they can fully fulfil this commitment. It is the Board’s policy to allow Executive Directors to accept directorships of other unconnected companies so long as the time commitments do not have any detrimental impact on the ability of the Director to fulfil his or her duties. It is considered this will broaden and enrich the business skills of Directors. Any such directorships must be undertaken with prior approval of the Board. 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 and 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 *Ross Paterson will reach nine years on the Board in September 2026. As announced on 24 February 2026, Duncan Cooper will join the Board on 1 June 2026 and takeover as Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee when Ross Paterson steps down from the Board on 31 August 2026 at the end of his tenure. THE UNITE GROUP PLC Annual Report and Accounts 2025 89