Miller joins student housing group to lead investment strategy

Student accommodation company UPP has hired Rachel Miller, former head of strategy at Grosvenor, as its first investment strategy director. Miller will lead on the identification and development of investment opportunities across the group. Simon Boorne, who was promoted to chief investment officer last month, said her hire would “drive forwards our investment strategy” with existing university partners, acquisitions and investments. Miller has more than 17 years’ industry experience, most recently as UK-wide investment director at Housing Growth Partnership, part of Lloyds Banking Group. There she created partnerships including those with Thriving Investments/Igloo, Kier and Platform_, and led on the formation of the recently announced Made Partnership between Lloyds, Barratt and Homes England.  Before joining HGP, she spent 13 years at Grosvenor in roles including head of new investment and head of strategy. She is also a non-executive director on the board of Soho Housing. Miller said: “Throughout my career I’ve looked for opportunities to achieve growth through partnerships and to deliver homes. “UPP is a leader in providing homes for students through long-term partnerships, and I’m looking forward to taking the lead on UPP’s strategic growth through the deepening of existing relationships and the development of new partnerships with universities, funders and developers.”