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Our podcast: Accommodation Matters

Accommodation Matters is the UK’s definitive student accommodation podcast.

Each month, hosts Jenny Shaw and Jen Steadman take you through the big issues affecting student accommodation and the wider student experience. We’ve covered everything from mental health to the Building Safety Act, environmental sustainability to the 2024 General Election since our launch in 2020 – and much, much more.

You can listen and subscribe on all good podcast platforms – so what are you waiting for?

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FEATURED EPISODES

A dive into all things Sustainability

In this four part series, we invited a range of expert guests to join us on our Accommodation Matters podcast to talk all things sustainability.

Our panel covered everything from the future of environmental sustainability in PBSA, what sustainable construction looks like at Unite Students, the future of social impact in Higher Education and the future of race and inclusion in student accommodation.

What the 2024 UK General Election means for student accommodation

Political decisions can reshape the whole Higher Education landscape, and many in the sector were keeping a close eye on the 2024 UK General Election. So we enlisted an expert panel and host Jenny Shaw to tell us exactly what the General Election might mean for Higher Education, students and student accommodation in a special General Election podcast episode.

What the Building Safety Act means for student accommodation

Grenfell Tower (2017). The Cube student accommodation fire, Bolton (2019). Two disasters that reshaped the landscape for building safety in student accommodation, and led to stringent new legislation in the Building Safety Act.

But what does the Building Safety Act actually mean for purpose-built student accommodation? How can we trust that students are safe in our buildings? And how can you make sure you’re compliant with the regulations? We’ve got you covered with our 40 minute deep-dive into the issue.

Designing community in student accommodation
To celebrate four years of Accommodation Matters, we took the show on the road to GSL Live and recorded a live episode! Join host Jenny Shaw for a lively panel discussion about designing community within student accommodation – including how the physical design can support community-building, the role of accommodation teams, whether themed accommodation works, and how to measure the success of community-building events.
What we know about the Class of 2024
With this year's first years arriving at university, this short podcast looks at what we know about the class of 2024 from the latest Applicant Index.
Innovations and inspiration for 2024/25
In our latest podcast episode, we look at new initiatives to improve students' university experience in their accommodation for 2024/25.
The Student Accommodation Podcast Summit
Accommodation Matters host Jenny Shaw recently collaborated with experts from across the Higher Education sector to bring together a very special podcast episode.
What we know about 2024’s university applicants
Every year, Unite Students surveys university applicants for our Applicant Index. And every year, we’re surprised by the differences between applicant cohorts. If you want to be prepared for the first year students who will arrive into your city in the autumn, you won’t want to miss this episode – or the report that spawned it.
What the 2024 UK General Election means for student accommodation
Political decisions can reshape the whole Higher Education landscape. So we enlisted an expert panel and host Jenny Shaw to tell us exactly what the 2024 UK General Election might mean for Higher Education, students and student accommodation in a special General Election podcast episode.
Emerging trends in student mental health
More and more students are seeking support for their mental health, and in response, we’ve seen a whole host of new initiatives to better meet that need. But what are these initiatives, where have they come from and what do student accommodation teams need to know? We’re getting into it in this month’s episode of Accommodation Matters. 
How can we solve the student accommodation supply problem?
In our latest episode of Accommodation Matters, we get to grips with the student accommodation supply/demand problem - and how we can solve it.
How can Higher Education end student loneliness?
The 2023 Student Academic Experience Survey showed that 1 in 4 students feels lonely most or all of the time – and that number is growing. With loneliness carrying the same health risks as smoking 15 cigarettes a day and having a substantial impact on mental health, academic performance and student retention, this month we’re asking: how can Higher Education end student loneliness?
What the Building Safety Act means for student accommodation
The eighth season of Accommodation Matters is here - and this time, we're talking everything to do with the Building Safety Act and how it intersects with student accommodation.
The future of social impact in Higher Education
How can student accommodation give back to local communities? We look at the future of social impact in Higher Education and PBSA.
The future of race and inclusion in student accommodation
Hot off the launch of the new Living Black at University Commission report, we’re continuing our focus on the future of sustainability within purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) with this month’s episode on race and inclusion in student accommodation.