Unite Students Accommodation Matters

With a new academic year just weeks away, we’re looking at the class of 2025 – and the factors that influence their wellbeing. Our expert panel discusses how key factors like part-time work, sense of community, loneliness and settling into a new city can impact student wellbeing, and what universities and accommodation providers can do to help new students settle into their new city. Join host Jenny Shaw and this month’s expert panel: Nick Hillman, Director at the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) Rebecca O’Hare, Assistant Director for Residence Life & Accommodation Office at University of Leeds Becca Hayhurst, Head of Resident Experience at Unite Students Accommodation Matters brings together sector experts to discuss the Higher Education sector's key issues through the lens of student accommodation. This episode was recorded on 6th August 2025 and produced by Ed Palmer. If you’d like to share feedback on the 2025 Applicant Index report with Unite Students, please get in touch at hello@unitestudents.com. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of individual guest speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Unite Students and/or Unite Group plc.

They’ve made headlines and opened up a whole new opportunity for the future of student accommodation… so, in this very special episode of Accommodation Matters, we’re exploring joint venture (JV) partnerships. This half-hour episode will tell you everything you need to know about JVs – why universities are choosing JVs, the benefits to universities, students and the local community, and the challenges of implementation. Join host Jenny Shaw and this month’s expert panel: Joe Lister, Chief Executive at Unite Students Jane Robinson, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Engagement and Place at Newcastle University Dr Stephen Bloye, Director of Campus Services at Manchester Metropolitan University Accommodation Matters brings together sector experts to discuss the Higher Education sector's key issues through the lens of student accommodation. This episode was recorded on 17th and 19th June 2025 and produced by Ed Palmer. If you’d like to discuss joint venture opportunities with Unite Students, please get in touch with Moray Notman (moray.notman@unitestudents.com). Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of individual guest speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Unite Students and/or Unite Group plc.

Every building needs a refresh at some point. Whether it’s adapting amenity spaces to meet changing student needs or refreshing the look of bedrooms, a refurbishment can unlock significant improvements in student and employee satisfaction. But balancing budgets against quality and student expectations is easier said than done. So, this month’s episode is a deep dive into refurbishments – how to do them right, and their hidden benefits. The conversation covers: When to refurbish a property How to deliver in-occupancy refurbishments How refurbishments drive value for money Making your refurbished buildings more sustainable How to future-proof a refurbishment Hosted as ever by the inimitable Jenny Shaw, this month’s expert panel includes: Nikki Todd, Managing Director at Fortis Vision Karan Khanna, Chief Operating Officer at Unite Students Roscoe Chubb, Head of Asset & Fund Management at Unite Students Accommodation Matters brings together sector experts to discuss the Higher Education sector’s key issues through the lens of student accommodation. This episode was recorded on 13th and 14th May 2025 and produced by Ed Palmer. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of individual guest speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Unite Students and/or Unite Group plc.   Resources Want to see what the refurbished properties mentioned in the episode look like? Check them out on our student website: Sherren House, London Cedar House, Liverpool Station Court, London Stapleton House, London Follow Unite Students on LinkedIn to hear about all the latest refurbishment and development updates: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unite-group-plc/

In an increasingly competitive student market, understanding the drivers of student satisfaction has never been more important. This month, we’re getting into what student satisfaction looks like in 2025. Hosted by Jenny Shaw, our panel covers what satisfaction surveys tell us about student needs, the role of quality, wellbeing and value for money, and what might drive satisfaction for Generation Alpha when they arrive at university in a few years. This month’s expert panel includes: Sarah Ead, Head of Insight at Global Student Living James Greenwood, Head of Residential Life at London School of Economics and Political Science Paul Watson, Group Operations Director at Unite Students Accommodation Matters brings together sector experts to discuss the Higher Education sector’s key issues through the lens of student accommodation. This episode was recorded on 10th April 2024 and produced by Ed Palmer. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of individual guest speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Unite Students and/or Unite Group plc.

‘Compassion’ is the word of the moment in the HE sector. But why, and what does that look like in practice? Join host Jenny Shaw and an expert panel for a deep dive into how compassion is shaping new approaches across UK Higher Education, in student support and beyond. This lively discussion covers how compassionate communications can enhance the student experience, how to integrate compassion into your organisation’s policies and procedures, and examples of this in practice across accommodation and university functions. Our expert panel includes: Dr Kathryn Waddington, Emeritus Fellow in Psychology at University of Westminster Julia Hunt, Mental Health Clinical Lead at University of Central Lancashire Katy Lemmon, Accommodation Manager at University of Liverpool Becca Hayhurst, Head of Resident Experience at Unite Students Accommodation Matters brings together sector experts to discuss the Higher Education sector’s key issues through the lens of student accommodation. This episode was recorded on Monday 24th February 2024 and was produced by Ed Palmer. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of individual guest speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Unite Students and/or Unite Group plc.   Resources The Higher Education Mental Health Implementation Taskforce (HEMHIT)’s Compassionate Communication Statement is available to download from Nottingham Trent University’s website: https://www.ntu.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0030/2526771/Compassionate-Communication-Statement.pdf Read more about Unite Students’ CARE service philosophy on our website: https://www.unitegroup.com/articles/student-support-resident-experience Find out more about Unite Students’ Support to Stay framework on our website: https://www.unitegroup.com/articles/student-support-to-stay-unite-students Learn more about the Nurture-U and Compassionate Campus initiatives at the Nurture-U website: www.nurtureuniversity.co.uk   Dr Kathryn Waddington is currently writing a book called 'How to be a Compassionate Academic' and would love to hear stories from listeners where compassion has been brought to life through small acts of kindness. These will be used with permission and anonymised in the book, for more details please email Kathryn at: k.waddington@westminster.ac.uk with 'BOOK' in the subject line.

Season 9 launches with something a little bit different. 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. Our panel includes: Jo Blair, Head of Specification at Unite Students Paul Mercer, Director at Kaplan Living Vanya Campbell, Engagement Manager at the University of Essex Accommodation Matters brings together sector experts to discuss the Higher Education sector’s key issues through the lens of student accommodation. This episode was recorded on Thursday 17th October 2024 at GSL Live and was produced by Ed Palmer. Thanks to Hannah Colbran and Sarah Ead at Global Student Living for helping to organise the session, to James King for providing technical assistance on the day, and to our GSL Live audience. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of individual guest speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Unite Students and/or Unite Group plc.   Resources Read more about the support that Unite Students offers on our website: https://www.unitegroup.com/articles/student-support-resident-experience

In July, Unite Students launched the 2024 Applicant Index: an in-depth look at the needs and concerns of this year’s university applicants. We recorded an episode about the findings at the time – now, as these applicants take up their places at university, we’re sharing our full interview with Nick Hillman, Director at the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) to give you even more insights into your first-year students. Host Jenny Shaw and Nick get into topics including: Trends we’re seeing across three years of Applicant Index data How this year’s applicants feel about finance The impact of socioeconomic disparity on applicant confidence The future of Higher Education Accommodation Matters brings together sector experts to discuss the Higher Education sector’s key issues through the lens of student accommodation. This episode was recorded on 19th July 2024 and produced by Ed Palmer. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of individual guest speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Unite Students and/or Unite Group plc.   Resources You can download the reports mentioned in this episode from Unite Students’ website, including: Applicant Index 2024 [July 2024] Living Black at University [February 2022] You can download the latest HEPI/Advance HE Student Academic Experience Survey from HEPI’s website. [June 2024] You can watch the HEPI/Unite Students launch day webinar on the Applicant Index on YouTube. [July 2024] On 17th October, we’re recording our first ever live episode of Accommodation Matters at the GSL Live conference! If you’d like to join us, you can get tickets from the GSL Live website – we’d love to see you there.

The Higher Education sector is full of ideas for improving student life. Last year, we asked our listeners to get in touch with what ideas and initiatives they’d launched in their accommodation – and our listeners loved it. So we’re doing it all over again. Join host Jen Steadman for this month’s episode of Accommodation Matters, where you’ll hear about initiatives to promote inclusion, safety and sustainability. Among other ideas, we look at a new app that's helping to build student communities, a student safety campaign that's brought together nine universities, and a podcast by and for students to support with belonging. Our contributors include: Pete Collins, Partnership and Engagement Manager at University of Birmingham Ellie Drave, Product Manager at Unite Students James Greenwood, Head of Residential Life at London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) Laura Burge, Senior Manager for Gender Equity, Respect and Inclusion at Deakin University Milana, Social Media Co-ordinator at the Unite Foundation Helen Strachan, Sustainability Manager at Unite Students Chloe Lloyd, Environment Manager at Unite Students Accommodation Matters brings together sector experts to discuss the Higher Education sector’s key issues through the lens of student accommodation. This episode was recorded throughout August 2024 and produced by Ed Palmer. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of individual guest speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Unite Students and/or Unite Group plc.   Resources Download the Unite Students Applicant Index from the Unite Students website. Learn more about LSE’s consent education campaign from their Consent video on YouTube. Read more about the Respect at Uni campaign from Deakin University’s website. Find out about the Unite Foundation’s scholarship, and download their podcast, from their website This Is Us At Uni – and the All Of Us community for estranged and care-experienced students at www.allofus.uk.

🎧 The special Student Accommodation Podcast Summit Episode is out now! Accommodation Matters host Jenny Shaw recently collaborated with experts Sarah Canning and Deenie Lee (The Property Marketing Strategists), Dan Smith (Student Housing Consultancy), Laura Bosworth (REAL), Richard Stott (Kexgill Group) and Rebecca O'Hare (University of Leeds) to record a special episode discussing crucial issues in student accommodation.   This top team of professionals share expert views on key topics, including: ⚪ PBSA vs. HMOs: Is affordability in student accommodation a self-perpetuating issue created by PBSA? ⚪ The evolution of PBSA rooms: Have they truly evolved to meet student needs? ⚪ Mental health challenges: Is the sector prepared for upcoming issues? ⚪ Understanding changing demographics and adapting services and products accordingly ⚪ Staffing costs and rent: Should increasing staff costs impact rent? ⚪ Undervaluing PBSA: Why are we still focused on rooms rather than the whole package? ⚪ Data, research, and market gaps: How data can reveal opportunities ⚪ Technology's influence on the future of accommodation ⚪ Future demand for flexibility from students ⚪ Intersectionality and inclusion: Implications for future accommodation options   It's a conversation you definitely don't want to miss. If you enjoyed the episode, do check out our collaborators’ podcasts – Housed: The Shared Living Podcast (Sarah, Deenie and Dan), Get Real About Marketing (Laura) and Free Food, Free Drinks (Rebecca), available from all good podcast platforms.   ***** Accommodation Matters brings together sector experts to discuss the Higher Education sector’s key issues through the lens of student accommodation. This episode was recorded on Friday 12th July 2024. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of individual guest speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Unite Students and/or Unite Group plc.

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. Hosted by Jenny Shaw (Higher Education External Engagement Director at Unite Students), our expert panel looks at the ever-shifting impact of the pandemic on this year’s incoming student cohort, how they’re feeling about their finances ahead of coming to university, the specific needs of working class and disabled applicants, and what this will all mean in practical terms for universities and student accommodation providers. Our panel includes: Dr Michelle Morgan, Dean of Students at University of East London Professor Tony Moss, Pro Vice-Chancellor Education and Student Experience at London South Bank University Will White, Higher Education Engagement Director at Unite Students We’re also joined by special guest Nick Hillman, Director of HEPI, who shares his reflections on this year’s findings and some of the stand-out stats that caught his attention. Accommodation Matters brings together sector experts to discuss the Higher Education sector’s key issues through the lens of student accommodation. This episode was recorded on 19th and 22nd July 2024 and produced by Ed Palmer. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of individual guest speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Unite Students and/or Unite Group plc.   Resources The following reports referenced in the episode can all be downloaded from the Unite Students website: The Unite Students 2024 Applicant Index [July 2024] Improving the transition into Higher Education [May 2024] Living Black at University [February 2022] You can also learn more about our Resident Ambassadors initiative from the Unite Students website. [April 2024] Jim Dickinson’s piece about duty of candour within Higher Education can be found on Wonkhe’s website. [July 2024] HEPI / Advance HE’s Student Academic Experience Survey 2024 report can be downloaded from HEPI’s website. [June 2024] The Unite Students / HEPI webinar on the Applicant Index 2024 can also be viewed on HEPI’s website. [July 2024] Paul Bolton and Joe Lewis’s ‘Degree apprenticeships’ briefing can be downloaded from the House of Commons library. [May 2024]

Political decisions can reshape the whole Higher Education landscape – so no doubt you’re keeping an eye on the 2024 General Election campaign. But what does it mean for Higher Education and student accommodation? In this episode, we’ve enlisted an expert panel and host Jenny Shaw to tell us just that. Our guests look at party manifestos, how universities should respond to these commitments (or lack of), what we might expect from further devolution and HE’s relationship with Further Education, and – most importantly – what students, Higher Education and the property sector need from an incoming administration. If you want to be prepared for what’s in store over the next five years, you won’t want to miss this episode. Our panellists include: George Blake, Policy and Networks Officer at London Higher Dani Payne, Senior Researcher at Social Market Foundation Ian Fletcher, Director of Policy at the British Property Foundation Megan Haskins, Policy and Research Manager at University College London Students’ Union Accommodation Matters brings together sector experts to discuss the Higher Education sector’s key issues through the lens of student accommodation. This episode was recorded on 19th June 2024 and produced by Ed Palmer. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of individual guest speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Unite Students and/or Unite Group plc.   Resources Manifestos by the Labour Party, Conservative and Unionist Party and Liberal Democrats are available to download from their respective party websites. [June 2024] The National Student Survey (NSS) 2024 will be published on Wednesday 10th July 2024 on the Office for Students (OfS) website. 2023’s NSS data is available on the OfS website. The Student Academic Experience Survey 2024 report can be downloaded from HEPI’s website. ‘Four futures: Shaping the future of higher education in England’ by Professor Sir Chris Husbands can also be downloaded from the HEPI website. [June 2024] The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan can be downloaded from the NHS England website. [June 2023] The Centre for Cities’ ‘Climbing the Summit: Big cities in the UK and the G7’ report can be downloaded from the Centre for Cities website. [June 2024] Information about the Australia Universities Accord can be found on the Australian Government Department of Education website. [Last updated June 2024] The Russell Group Students’ Unions ‘Student Cost of Living Report’ can be downloaded from their website. [March 2023]

Content note: This episode contains discussion of sensitive topics including suicide. If you need support with the topics discussed in this episode, there are organisations such as Mind (0300 123 3393), Samaritans (116 123) or Student Minds that can help you in complete confidence.    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. The creation of a Higher Education Student Support Champion. The Higher Education Mental Health Implementation Taskforce. A suite of guidance on suicide-safer universities. An innovative scheme in which Manchester’s universities collaborate with the NHS to improve student mental health outcomes.  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.  Our expert guests aren’t just talking about the work that’s happening to support student mental health – they’re leading the work themselves. Hosted by Jenny Shaw, this month’s panel includes:  Professor Edward Peck, Vice Chancellor at Nottingham Trent University and the Government’s Higher Education Student Support Champion for England  Professor Jo Smith OBE, Emeritus Professor in Early Intervention and Psychosis at University of Worcester  Dr Simon Merrywest, Director for the Student Experience at University of Manchester  Accommodation Matters brings together sector experts to discuss the Higher Education sector’s key issues through the lens of student accommodation. This episode was recorded on 30th April and 1st May 2024 and produced by Ed Palmer.  Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of individual guest speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Unite Students and/or Unite Group plc.    Resources  You can find out more about the role of the Higher Education Student Support Champion here, and the Higher Education Mental Health Implementation Taskforce here.  The University Mental Health Charter can be found on Student Minds’ website.  Universities UK’s Suicide-safer Universities guidance document can be downloaded here.  Read more about the Greater Manchester Universities Mental Health Service here.  Learn more about R;pple’s suicide prevention technology from their website.  A number of mental health and suicide awareness charities are referenced during the episode – we have listed links to their websites below:  James’ Place Papyrus Olly’s Future The Mary O’Gara Foundation 

It’s the episode you’ve been waiting for… An explosion in student numbers. A contraction in houses of multiple occupancy (HMO). Challenges to building new developments. Any one of these could have created a PBSA supply issue – but together, they’ve created a crisis in many cities. Our expert panel looks at how this came about, the ways in which this is playing out in some of those cities, what the data is telling us for a longer term picture and - most importantly - some of the potential solutions to this issue. Hosted by Jenny Shaw, this month’s panel includes: Sarah Jones, Partner at Cushman & Wakefield Iain Garfield, Director of Estates and Facilities at Newcastle University Simon Jones, Group HE Director at Unite Students Eleanor Whitford Kelly, Market Intelligence Manager at Unite Students Accommodation Matters brings together sector experts to discuss the Higher Education sector’s key issues through the lens of student accommodation. This episode was recorded on 15th April 2024 and produced by Ed Palmer. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of individual guest speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Unite Students and/or Unite Group plc.   Resources Cushman & Wakefield’s UK Student Accommodation Report for 2023 is available to download from their website. Unipol’s 2023 Ten Cities Rent Survey can be downloaded from the Unipol website. UCAS’ 2024 cycle applicant figures can be found on the UCAS website. More information about the joint venture between Unite Students and Newcastle University is available on Unite Students’ website.

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? Our expert panel discusses which student groups are most at risk of loneliness (and when), what support exists for students who are lonely, how to help students integrate into the student community, and how the sector can mitigate contributing factors such as the cost of living crisis and proximity to campus. Host Jen Steadman, Senior HE Communications Executive at Unite Students, also shares her personal experience of loneliness at university. This month’s panel includes: Nicola Frampton, Insight Manager at Student Minds Sarah Djuric, Residence Life Manager at the University of Leeds Jenny Dalzell, Regional Student Support Manager at Unite Students Accommodation Matters brings together sector experts to discuss the Higher Education sector’s key issues through the lens of student accommodation. This episode was recorded on 11th March 2024 and produced by Ed Palmer. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of individual guest speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Unite Students and/or Unite Group plc.   Resources Student Minds’ Student Space website provides students with support information, advice and tailored resources, as well as signposting to university services. Wonkhe’s student loneliness research, ‘Only the Lonely’, is available to download here. [2019] Unite Students’ Applicant Index, Living Black at University and neurodivergence reports are all available from the Research section of the Unite Group website. [2022/2023] The Student Academic Experience Survey can be found at HEPI’s website. [2023] Information about Student Minds’ research with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport is available on the gov.uk website. [2023] You can learn more about Unite Students’ Resident Ambassador programme on the Unite Group website. [2023]

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. Our expert panel discusses the benefits and challenges thrown up by the Act, the practical stages of compliance, who’s accountable for what, what it all means for students, and what the future holds for building safety. Hosted by Jenny Shaw, HE External Engagement Director at Unite Students, the panel includes: Ian Fletcher, Director of Policy at British Property Federation (BPF) Ian Bamforth, Head of Estates & Facilities at Unite Students Abi Yeo, Performance Quality & Systems Manager at Unite Students Special guest Jo Blair, Head of Quality & Standards at Unite Students, also shares how we put together a resident engagement strategy to keep 70,000 students informed about building safety, as required by the Act. All of Unite Students' buildings are safe to live in. Accommodation Matters brings together sector experts to discuss the Higher Education sector’s key issues through the lens of student accommodation. This episode was recorded on 9th February 2024 and produced by Ed Palmer. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of individual guest speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Unite Students and/or Unite Group plc.   Resources The British Property Federation’s Building Safety video series can be found at their YouTube channel. Unipol are running an in-person training event called ‘Getting up to speed with the Building Safety Act’ on Thursday 29th February – find out more from the Unipol website. Unite Students’ Home Charter is available on our student website, along with more information about the Building Safety Act and our resident engagement strategy.

It’s the final episode in our series on the future of sustainability in purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA)! The festive season is a season of giving, and so this time we’re looking at social impact – giving back to local communities by making a positive difference. Our guests dive into their own social impact initiatives, as well as student engagement, their experiences of ‘town and gown’ tensions, and what the future might look for social impact within Higher Education and PBSA. Hosted by Jen Steadman, Higher Education Comms Executive at Unite Students, this episode’s guests include: Kimberly Eyre, Residential Life Manager at Queen Mary University of London Mike Leonard, Residential Property Manager at the University of Leeds Rebecca Rymsza, Head of Brand and Communications at the Unite Foundation Ivy Yarrow, Social Impact Manager at Unite Students Special guest Darren Way, founder of youth intervention charity Streets of Growth, also joins us to talk about how the charity has benefited from finding a stable home at Unite Students’ Hayloft Point property in Aldgate, London. Accommodation Matters brings together sector experts to discuss the Higher Education sector’s key issues through the lens of student accommodation. This episode was recorded on 7th December 2023 and produced by Ed Palmer. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of individual guest speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Unite Students and/or Unite Group plc.   Resources The 2023 Applicant Index report is available to download now from the Unite Students website. To find out more about the Unite Foundation's scholarship project, please visit the Foundation website; the All of Us community for care-experienced and estranged students can be found here. 2021/22 report 'The Economic and Social Impact of Queen Mary University of London' can be downloaded from the Queen Mary university website. You can learn more about the North Hill Well Wood project, run by the University of Leeds and Unite Students, here. For more information on Streets of Growth, visit their website now.

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. With Black students being the UK’s fastest-growing student demographic, greater inclusion of Black students is increasingly important for those who own and operate purpose-built student accommodation. Our guests explore the impact of student accommodation on the awarding gap, what steps the purpose-built student accommodation sector has made towards greater race equity since Living Black at University was published in February 2022, and how universities and accommodation providers can make further strides towards race equity in future. Hosted by Jenny Shaw, HE External Engagement Director at Unite Students, this episode’s guests include: tara leach, Senior Advisor (Equality Charters) at Advance HE Rebecca O’Hare, Interim Deputy Director of Residential Services at University of Leeds Sam Kingsley, Head of Belonging and Engagement at Unite Students Jenny also shares some interview clips from March’s Living Black at University Conference, speaking to Andy Owusu, former Office for Students Mental Health Project Officer for Black Students at London South Bank University, and Osaro Otobo, Consultant at Halpin Partnership and project manager on the original Living Black at University report. Accommodation Matters brings together sector experts to discuss the Higher Education sector’s key issues through the lens of student accommodation. This episode was recorded on 10th November 2023 and produced by Ed Palmer. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of individual guest speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Unite Students and/or Unite Group plc.   Resources The Living Black at University Commission report, published on 14th November 2023, is available for download now: https://www.unitegroup.com/living-black-commission-report The original Living Black at University report, published in February 2022, can be found at the Unite Group website: https://www.unitegroup.com/living-black-at-university More information on Advance HE’s Athena SWAN and Race Equality Charters is available at the Advance HE website: https://www.advance-he.ac.uk/charters ‘Meeting the needs of neurodivergent students’, a March 2023 report on neurodivergent students’ needs in student accommodation, can be downloaded from the Unite Group website: https://www.unitegroup.com/neurodivergent-students-report The Unite Students Commission on Living Black at University website, featuring downloadable Commission resources, can be found here: https://www.unitegroup.com/unite-students-commission-on-living-black-at-university

Unite Students has committed to becoming a net-zero carbon organisation by 2030 – with new developments in particular being targeted for a reduction in carbon. But what does a sustainable new development look like in practice right now, what solutions are there to key sources of embodied carbon, and what are some of the challenges being faced when it comes to building sustainable new developments? Building on our recent ‘The future of sustainability in student accommodation’ episode of Accommodation Matters, we’re now sharing our full interview with Nicholas Pigula, Sustainability Construction Manager at Unite Students. Hosted by Jenny Shaw, HE External Engagement Director at Unite Students, tune in now to find out: What we’re currently focusing on to create more sustainable buildings How we’re targeting reductions in embodied carbon His favourite examples of net-zero developments What sustainable features have been built into our newest property, Nottingham’s Morriss House What we’re focusing on next in our drive for net-zero Our Sustainable Construction Framework is coming soon – sign up here to be updated when it’s live. Accommodation Matters brings together sector experts to discuss the Higher Education sector’s key issues through the lens of student accommodation. This episode was recorded on 13th October 2023 and produced by Ed Palmer.

Accommodation Matters is back for its seventh series! For this series, we’re focusing on the future of sustainability within purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA). First up is what most people would think of when hearing the word ‘sustainability’ – environmental sustainability. Our panel of experts explores how to tackle net-zero in PBSA, engaging students on sustainability within accommodation, how sustainable accommodation can improve the student experience, the possibilities of AI and much more. Hosted by Jenny Shaw, HE External Engagement Director at Unite Students, this episode’s guests include: Simon Hooton, Director at Ash Futures Sarah Canning, Co-Founder at The Property Marketing Strategists James Tiernan, Head of Sustainability at Unite Students We’re also joined by special guest Nicholas Pigula, Sustainability Construction Manager at Unite Students, who shares some insights on the challenges of sustainable construction and some of the ways that Unite Students are approaching this on new developments. Accommodation Matters brings together sector experts to discuss the Higher Education sector’s key issues through the lens of student accommodation. This episode was recorded on 13th October 2023 and produced by Ed Palmer.   Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of individual guest speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Unite Students and/or Unite Group plc.

With a new academic year rapidly approaching, we wanted to know what new and exciting initiatives are being rolled out in Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) around the UK – so we asked you, our listeners, to submit their own contributions about what they’re doing differently for the 2023/24 academic year. This month, we’re sharing your ideas and innovations for the year ahead to inspire our audience, including enhanced student arrival comms, new initiatives to better support Black and care-experienced students throughout the year, and using names as a tool to deliver an elevated student experience in accommodation. Hosted by Jen Steadman, Higher Education Comms Executive at Unite Students, this episode’s guests include: Laura Maclean, Head of Accommodation and Customer Services at University of Kent Shauna Scott, Communications Manager at University College London Jo Blair, Head of Quality and Standards at Unite Students Paula Goodband, Senior Residential Experience Manager for Wellbeing at University of Nottingham Tobi Adeleke, Intern at Unite Students Nanu Viatoshir, Intern at Unite Students Accommodation Matters brings together sector experts to discuss the Higher Education sector’s key issues through the lens of student accommodation. This episode was recorded throughout August 2023 and produced by Ed Palmer.   Resources The Living Black at University research report is available to download from the Unite Students website. [February 2022] The Unite Foundation website can be found here.   Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of individual guest speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Unite Students and/or Unite Group plc.