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Interview: A more collaborative approach to student support

In January, Becca Hayhurst joined the organisation as our new Head of Student Support. We caught up with Becca to find out how she’s finding her role, what she’s been up to since joining, and details of our new student support strategy.

Living Black at University Commission: themes from our first meeting

The Unite Students Commission on Living Black at University recently held its first in-person meeting in Birmingham, on the topic of integration – here are some of the key themes that emerged from the meeting.

How can we better prepare students for university living?

Data shows that students’ expectations for university life don’t meet with their experience. So what can the Higher Education sector do to bridge the gap and better reflect the reality of student living to prospective applicants?

In Conversation with… Hillary Gyebi-Ababio

Jenny Shaw speaks to Hillary Gyebi-Ababio, outgoing Vice President for Higher Education at the National Union of Students (NUS), about students, community and her time at NUS.

‘In Conversation’: A new Higher Education podcast mini-series

This summer, Unite Students is launching ‘In Conversation’: a podcast mini-series, showcasing in-depth discussions with 3 Higher Education sector experts about their experiences, sector insights, and what they anticipate for the future. Jenny Shaw, Higher Education External Engagement Director and series host, shares more.
15/06/2022
Blogs

10,000 BLACK INTERNS: Providing opportunities for all

In June, we welcomed nine interns to Unite Students as part of our partnership with 10,000 Black Interns.
15/06/2022
Press releases

Unite Students helps students make the leap to university

Unite Students has partnered with UCAS to deliver key skills in making the ‘leap’ to university to more prospective students.

Belonging: How we’re creating room for everyone at Unite Students

A sense of belonging is essential to a positive working and living experience, underpinned by factors including equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) and wellbeing. As such, Unite Students is shifting away from the phrase ‘EDI’ and towards new language which more precisely captures the holistic nature of inclusion.

HEPI Annual Conference: 6 takeaways for student accommodation

Jenny Shaw, Higher Education External Engagement Director, attended the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI)’s annual conference on 9th June – here are her key takeaways for the student accommodation sector.
09/06/2022
Press releases

Unite Students commits 1% annual profits to social initiatives every year

Unite Students has committed to donating 1% of annual profits to social initiatives going forward, amounting to a commitment of c.£2million a year.
07/06/2022
Podcasts

What can UK accommodation providers learn from overseas PBSA?

What does student accommodation look like in different markets, and how does the UK’s provision differ from the US and Australia? Learn more from the lively, informative discussion in this month’s episode of Accommodation Matters.

What you need to know about the widening student gender money gap

Following on from our recent cost of living research, Vivi Friedgut – Founder and CEO of Blackbullion – explores an unexpected finding from their Student Money & Wellbeing report, published this year.
12/05/2022
Press releases

Unite Students named Student Accommodation Operator of the Year

Unite Students, the UK’s largest provider of student accommodation, has been named Student Accommodation Operator of the Year at leading property sector awards, RESI. It was singled out for the way it supported students in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Its student rent support provided since the outbreak of the pandemic totalled in excess of £100 million.

Mental Health Awareness Week 2022: Being there for estranged LGBTQ+ students

Family estrangement is sadly all too common for LGBTQ+ students. For Mental Health Awareness Week 2022, Fiona Ellison - Director of the Unite Foundation - shares what the Foundation is doing to support estranged and care experienced LGBTQ+ students, and what Higher Education institutions can do to support their mental health and wellbeing.

What’s next for the future of student mental health?

We take a deep-dive into current student mental health trends, the latest thinking in the student support sector, and what this means for the future of student mental health.
05/05/2022
Corporate blogs

Benefits of purpose-built student accommodation – creating value for local communities

Growth in student numbers in the UK shows no sign of abating. Students need homes, and many live in Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMOs), putting pressure on local housing. With HMOs in London containing an average of 2.5 people, a new 1,000-bed student accommodation scheme would potentially free up 400 homes. This is the scale of the problem that purpose-built student accommodation providers could solve.

5 ways to help students feel they belong in their accommodation

In the second of a two-part series, Jenny Shaw – Higher Education External Engagement Director at Unite Students – offers her insights into helping students to feel a sense of belonging in their accommodation.

Doing more for Muslim students in UK student accommodation

With the number of Muslim students in the UK likely to grow in the coming years, we look at what challenges they face, and how we’re supporting our Muslim community at Cambrian Point, Cardiff, to celebrate Ramadan.
28/04/2022
Press releases

Unite Students announces £65million upgrade to three Manchester properties

Unite Students, the UK's largest student accommodation operator, today announces a £64.58million upgrade across three of its Manchester properties – Parkway Gate, Kincardine Court and New Medlock House. Work on all three is due to be completed by September, the start of the 2022/ 23 academic year.

Supporting LGBTQ+ students at National Student Pride

Unite Students was proud to be a Gold Sponsor of National Student Pride, the UK’s biggest LGBT+ student event, last weekend (8-10th April). Here’s what we did at the event, why we did it, and what we’re doing to support LGBTQ+ students and employees here at Unite.
12/04/2022
Press releases

Unite Students launches commission to support national change following ‘Living Black at University’ report

Unite Students has launched a national commission to support the higher education and private student accommodation sectors’ response to its recently published Living Black at University report.

“It’s a bit scary”: Risk, belonging and higher education

A new Social Market Foundation report, sponsored by Unite Students, outlines how social patterning can influence prospective students' choice to go to university. Jenny Shaw, Higher Education External Engagement Director at Unite Students, outlines how the risk of not belonging can also affect the choice to go to university, and the impact that familiar, trusted careers advice can have on this.

What does the cost of living crisis mean for students?

The current UK cost of living crisis is affecting everyone, and students are no exception. Three experts share what the sector needs to know about the current situation, including our new survey data on the topic.

Accommodation Matters S04E02: The rising cost of living

Our latest episode of Accommodation Matters delves into the big topic of the moment - the cost of living crisis, and what it means for students and their accommodation.
04/04/2022
Press releases

Rising cost of living increases pressure on parents with children at university – new study by Unite Students

New independent research commissioned by Unite Students shows parents and students at university are feeling the impact of the rising cost of living. With financial anxiety at high levels, Unite has partnered with Blackbullion to offer support to students and parents in a free downloadable guide.
01/04/2022
Press releases

Careers advice driving inequality in education, report shows

The Social Market Foundation has published a report, sponsored by Unite Students, which shows careers advice is still “socially patterned” - schools in wealthier areas tend to steer children towards higher education, while schools in less affluent places are more likely to emphasise vocational routes.
30/03/2022
Press releases

In remembrance of Sabita Thanwani

Following last night's vigil in remembrance of Sabita Thanwani at London's City University, we would like to express our heartfelt condolences to her family and friends. On behalf of everyone at Unite Students, our thoughts are with them at this very difficult time.
28/03/2022
Press releases

Unite Students invites applications for lease of new community space in Tower Hamlets, London

Unite Students has opened applications for the lease and management of a new community space at its Middlesex Street development in Tower Hamlets. It is hoped the new community space will be utilised sympathetic to the site’s heritage – a former Shakespearean-era playhouse.
21/03/2022
Press releases

Message from Unite Students’ Chief Executive Richard Smith regarding tragic death of Sabita Thanwani

Message: This is an unprecedented event for our business and a shock to us all. On behalf of everyone at Unite Students, I would like to express our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Sabita Thanwani. Our thoughts are with them at this very difficult time.

Leading the sector: My ASRA manifesto

Sarah Reynolds, Area Manager at Unite Students, is the new chair of ASRA. Here, she outlines her sector experience, why she put herself forward for the role, and what her plans are for ASRA.

What does student accommodation look like for Gen Z?

Adapted from a presentation given at the 2022 ASRA Conference this week by Pin Yiong and Victoria Simmons, intrapreneur Ericka Yabut outlines some of the key characteristics of Gen Z, how this drives what they want from student accommodation, and what we’re doing to accommodate this.
08/03/2022
Press releases

Unite Students to dispose of eleven properties for £306 million

Unite Students, the UK's leading owner, manager and developer of student accommodation, today announces the disposal of a portfolio of 11 properties, comprising 4,488 beds for £306 million, providing the Group with capacity to fund its £1 billion development pipeline and explore additional growth opportunities.
08/03/2022
Corporate blogs

International Women’s Day: Five Unite Students employees share their experiences of equality

International Women’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate the social, economic and cultural achievements of all women. Here, five Unite Students employees provide an insight – in their own words - into their experiences of gender equality.

Combatting loneliness through our Winter Wellbeing campaign

Jenny Dalzell – Student Support Manager at Unite Students – shares some insights from our recent Winter Wellbeing campaign against loneliness.

How has the LGBTQ+ student experience changed over time?

Unite Students is proud to share that we are sponsors of National Student Pride for 2022. As part of LGBT History Month, founder Tom Guy and colleague Celine share their experiences of being LGBTQ+ students at university 14 years apart, what has changed since then, and why National Student Pride was founded.
23/02/2022
Investor

Results for the year ended 31 December 2021 – 23 February 2022

Accommodation Matters S04E01: Living Black at University

Accommodation Matters is back for 2022 with a new season! In this first instalment, we share the highlights of our Living Black at University launch event and discussion panel.

My experience of university as a Black student

Third-year Journalism student David shares, in his own words, how his university experience has been influenced by his race.
09/02/2022
Press releases

Student drug use: reducing harm and tackling supply

Universities UK (UUK) has announced new work in partnership with Unite Students, GuildHE and Independent HE, to set out a common approach to reduce harms from drug use and better tackle supply.

Building a community through events at Unite Students

With the second term in full swing, we spoke to some of our Resident Ambassador Champions to find out more about some of the events that Resident Ambassadors have run so far this academic year, and what they’ve got planned for the year ahead.

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