Jarvis plc acquires majority shareholding in studentUK

Jarvis plc, the leading provider of infrastructiure services to the Education sector, has announced that it has acquired a majority stakeholding in the Uk's leading online student publisher, studentUK Ltd

Jarvis plc, the international facilities management group, has increased its shareholding in studentUK, the UKs largest web publisher in the student market to 75% giving it a controlling interest in the business.

Through studentUK Jarvis will have access to a rapidly growing and large on-line student community and will use the site to directly promote accommodation to students in higher education.

Students are geographically dispersed across the UK and the Internet is fast becoming the most popular medium of choice in targeting students" says Mark Allen, Business Development Director at Jarvis UPP. We estimate that 93% of students have free Internet access and go on-line at least once a week. studentUK will assist us in promoting our individual halls and we will be able to better identify student living behaviour through on-line research. Our services will then be tailored to meet changing student requirements."

studentUK intends to upgrade the websites, which will then be re-launched with enhanced features in Autumn 2002. It will also continue to expand its operations in the student market and to grow revenue aggressively.

Jose Adams, CEO of studentUK, said, Our websites target students from school leaver age needing higher education guidance to University graduates needing career advice. No other UK website offers services to such a cross section of students, who tend to be a disparate group making direct and precise marketing difficult. The Internet is proving to be one of the most effective communication tools."

Jarvis acquired 45% of StudentUK in June 2001 and has now purchased a further 30% from W & J Linney Ltd, who will retain a 15% Interest. The remaining 10% is held by UCAS Enterprises Ltd, a subsidiary of UCAS, the central UK body which processes applications for entry to Higher Education.

Tony Higgins, CEO, UCAS adds: Quite apart from managing the formal process of applying for a place in Higher Education, UCAS is in the business of giving help and advice to potential students. studentUK helps the process and it remains part of our infrastructure designed to convey essential information and create a dialogue between students

Notes to Editors:

Claire Dexter or Stuart Lambert, Republic
Tel: +44 (0)20 7379 5000. E-mail: claire/stuart@republicpr.com
Mike Tate, Director of Corporate Communications, Jarvis plc
Tel. +44 (0)20 7462 6670 E-mail: mike.tate@jarvis-uk.com
Ian Tester, Marketing Manager, student UK Ltd
Tel: 020 7852 5379 Email: ian.tester@studentUK.com

Jarvis plc

Jarvis plc is a facilities management and infrastructure services group, and a leader in innovative outsourcing solutions, both in the private sector and through public/private partnerships (PPP).

Jarvis University Partnerships Programme (UPP) provides an innovative solution to the development, ownership and operation of university student residential accommodation. Jarvis UPP aims to be the first choice private sector provider of asset and infrastructure based services to universities and their students.

studentUK:

Founded in 1998, studentUK is the UKs leading web publisher in the student market, and provides resources and entertainment to users across the whole of the Higher Education lifecycle within its network of community websites.

It has recently expanded its operations by acquiring the graduate recruitment business Gradunet, and launching a separate division (student360) to provide a variety of marketing services to Education Institutions.

studentUK is the only student website officially backed and partnered by UCAS, the body handling all UK student admissions, giving it unique access to the hundreds of thousands of students entering Higher Education each year.