
Unite Students was founded in 1991 and since then it has housed more than half a million students in buildings across the UK. The FTSE250 company currently employs more than 1,900 people and is headquartered in Bristol. Here are some highlights:
2019
- Awarded Investors in People Gold for a further 3 years
- Education Secretary Damian Hinds publicly endorsed the Leapskills programme
2018
- Opened 7 new properties in Newcastle, Durham, Bristol, Portsmouth, Sheffield and Birmingham totalling 3,074 new beds
- Piloted the Leapskills programme, helping young people transition to independent living
- Raised almost £600,000 for The British Heart Foundation over 2 years
- Acquired the first major London development site in 6 years
- Introduced an online student check-in system
- Launched The Common Room, a digital peer-to-peer student advice forum, accessible through the MyUnite app
2017
- Converted to using 100% certified renewable energy across the entire business
- Passed £1 million of charitable giving since 2014
- Stapleton House awarded Private Halls of Residence (London) of the Year (Property Week Student Accommodation Awards)
- Awarded the Behaviour Change & Employee Engagement Trophy for driving positive changes in energy consumption (Energy Awards)
- Opened Mahadevi and 16-25 IP community projects within retail spaces of 2 different properties
- Unite Group converted to a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT)
2016
- Awarded Investors in People Gold Status
- Office opened in China and Chinese website launched
- Property Week's Student Accommodation Operator of the Year for third time
- Bristol Business of the Year by local newspaper, Bristol Post
- Employees and students raised nearly £200,000 for Sport Relief
- First cohort of Unite Foundation graduates
2015
- Unite UK Student Accommodation Fund acquired a 2,100 bed student accommodation portfolio
- First Living Wage employer in sector
- Awarded 12 bronze Green Impact Awards by the National Union of Students
- Employees and students raised £120,000 for Cancer Research UK
2014
- Launched key business purpose, Home for Success, putting students at heart of everything the business does
- As part of £40 million investment, launched a £21m programme to install LED to properties
- Awarded Gold at the London Design Awards in the Graphic Design - Environmental category
2013
- Student wellbeing programme launched
- 20Mb broadband installed in all buildings
- Award-winning re-financing
2012
- Created a second joint venture, targeting a £1 billion London Portfolio – the London Student Accommodation Vehicle (LSAV)
- Successful issue of a retail bond, raising £90 million
- Launched the Unite Foundation, providing first 21 scholarships for students lacking family support, incorporating free accommodation and contribution towards living expenses
- Financial support of IntoUniversity, Land Aid and SIFE.
- Awarded two prestigious environmental awards.
2011
- Launched an annual recognition scheme for employees
- Gained Investors in People Silver Award
2010
- London office opened at Swan House, off Oxford Street
2009
- £194 million joint venture formed with Oasis Capital Bank to create 1,119 beds across three student homes in London
- Phil White became chairman
- Voted one of Britain’s Top Employers by Best Companies
2008
- Launched a change programme to help build a customer-led and city-driven business
2006
- Formed Unite UK Student Accommodation Fund (USAF), Europe’s largest unlisted and specialist student accommodation investment vehicle
- Unite won three customer service awards
2004
- First joint venture for 1,168 bed student village in Sheffield, which brought the total number of properties up to 100
2001
- Acquisition of competitor, UniLodge
- Unite customer research launched
2000
- Listed on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange
- Expanded into Manchester, Liverpool, and Portsmouth
1999
- Unite listed on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM)
1998
- First properties opened in London
1994
- Unite acquired more properties in Bristol and began specialist property management services
1992
- First Unite property opened in Bristol and students moved in to a new type of accommodation