The Higher Education Act 2004 required the appointment of an independent body to run a student complaints scheme in England and Wales and the OIA was chosen to operate this scheme in 2005. Initially, all universities in England and Wales were required to subscribe to the Scheme. However, the Consumer Rights Act 2015, the relevant section of which came into force on 1 September 2015, extended the range of higher education providers that are required to participate in the Scheme. Our membership now includes FE colleges providing higher education, alternative providers and providers of School-Centred Initial Teacher Training, as well as universities.