The University of Glasgow has appointed Mark Glover, chairman of SEC Newgate UK, as Professor in Practice in Economic Development and Public Affairs, based in the Office of the Vice Principals.¹

What is a Professor in Practice?

A Professor in Practice is a senior professional appointed by a university for their experience outside academia rather than for an academic research career. The role connects teaching, research and partnerships with the world of work: professors in practice contribute to courses, advise on engagement with industry and government, and help students and researchers see how their work applies beyond the university.

The role at Glasgow

Mark Glover will work with colleagues across the University to strengthen partnerships with civic, industry and policy leaders; bring professional insight into undergraduate and postgraduate teaching; and support students and researchers to apply their skills and ideas to real-world challenges. He will also help raise the University’s profile in innovation and enterprise, supporting efforts to attract investment and scale spin-outs. In addition, the new role will assist in strengthening the reach and reputation of the Glasgow Riverside Innovation District.

The Glasgow Riverside Innovation District (GRID) is a partnership between the University of Glasgow, Scottish Enterprise and Glasgow City Council to develop the area around the River Clyde as a centre for research, business and investment.² It brings academic research and industry together in one place, which is exactly the kind of connection this appointment is designed to support.

The district spans both banks of the River Clyde. It includes the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, the largest hospital campus in Europe, and the Pacific Quay media hub, and sits alongside the University’s £1bn redevelopment of its main West End campus.³

Background

Mark Glover is chairman of corporate affairs agency SEC Newgate UK⁴ and has four decades of experience at the intersection of politics, communications and business. He co-founded Bellenden Public Affairs in 2006, which became Newington Communications in 2016,⁵ building it into one of the UK’s top ten public affairs consultancies before it merged to form SEC Newgate UK in 2021.⁶ In 2020 he received the PRCA’s Outstanding Contribution in Public Affairs award.⁷ Alongside his career in consultancy, he served as a councillor in Southwark for 12 years, from 2002 to 2014.⁸

Speaking about his appointment, Mark Glover said: “I am excited to be joining such a prestigious institution as the University of Glasgow, with a rich history of academic excellence, strong research and engagement with the business community. My passion is broadening opportunities through Widening Participation, for students to access the best education and careers, and I look forward to working with the team at Glasgow to achieve this and help drive economic growth.”

Uzma Khan, Vice Principal for Innovation and Economic Development and Deputy Chief Operating Officer,⁹ said: “We are delighted with this strategic appointment. Mark’s expertise and values mirror those of the University, and his passion for delivering meaningful impact and outcomes – particularly for underrepresented groups and those from different socioeconomic backgrounds – will be invaluable. Through this appointment, the University will undoubtedly strengthen its ability to equip students and researchers with the skills, connections, and confidence to succeed in their careers and contribute meaningfully to society.”

What the appointment is for

The appointment brings together three things: widening participation, so that students from all backgrounds can reach the best education and careers; teaching grounded in current practice in government and business; and the University’s wider work to attract investment and grow the Glasgow Riverside Innovation District.

Widening participation already runs through the University’s work with schools. Its programmes for pupils include Reach, for those aiming at medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine and law; the Top-Up programme; a Summer School and the Sutton Trust Summer School; and routes in through HNC articulation and Access to Higher Education.¹⁰ The appointment adds a stronger link to employers, so that widening access to university leads on to widening access to good careers.

By bringing professional expertise into the academic community, the University reinforces its ambition to translate knowledge and collaboration into real-world impact.

Sources

1. University of Glasgow, “Staff A–Z: Mark Glover”; Company of Communicators, “Past Master Mark Glover appointed Professor”, 6 October 2025. ↩︎
2. University of Glasgow, “Glasgow Riverside Innovation District”. ↩︎
3. University of Glasgow, “Glasgow Riverside Innovation District”. ↩︎
4. SEC Newgate UK, “Mark Glover”. ↩︎
5. Companies House, Newington Communications Ltd (05674779): incorporated 13 January 2006, trading as Bellenden until 23 September 2016. ↩︎
6. SEC Newgate UK, “Newgate and Newington merge to form SEC Newgate UK”, 18 January 2021; PRovoke Media, “Newington & Newgate merge to become SEC Newgate UK”, 18 January 2021. ↩︎
7. PublicAffairsNetworking, “PRCA Public Affairs Awards winners 2020”, 3 December 2020. ↩︎
8. Mace Magazine, “Mark Glover”. ↩︎
9. University of Glasgow, “Staff A–Z: Uzma Khan” (now Chief Operating Officer and Vice Principal Innovation & Economic Development). ↩︎
10. University of Glasgow, “Widening Participation: school pupils”. ↩︎