Many institutions subscribe to HEIDI - the Higher Education Database for Institutions, and use the data provided to compare their performance to others.
Further information can be found on the HEFCE web site.
Powerpoint presentations:
Shaping Strategy: the role of KPIs, Dr Sonia Virdee, Director of Strategic Planning, University of Essex
Measuring Research Performance and Impact, Professor Seymour Roworth-Stokes, PVC (Research and Development), University for the Creative Arts