Delegate Area - The National Codes Student Experience Conference 2025

Welcome & Introduction - Victoria Tolmie-Loverseed, Unipol

Setting the Scene

The importance of the Student Experience in Higher Education; adding value to student choice.

10.05 – 10.25

Nick Hillman, Chief Executive, HEPI 

The importance of the Student Experience in Higher Education; adding value to student choice.

Nick will be offering his view on the current status of Higher Education and what the future looks like for the sector.

10.25 – 10.55

Tuely Robins, Director of Strategic Partnerships, Student Crowd

Unlocking student decisions in 2025: What drives intentions, choice, and experience?

Get into the minds of today’s students as they navigate the journey of choosing accommodation. Based in supply and demand dynamics, this session will explore critical questions operators need to address:

• Intentions - what price points do students target? Do they prioritise quality or cost?
• Choices - what are the key drivers influencing their choices?
• Experience - once they’ve moved in, what defines their satisfaction?

Packed with data-driven insights, this session will help you optimise your offerings to meet student expectations and stand out in a competitive market; refine your approach and deliver what matters most to students.

10.55 – 11.30

Panel Session

A student's perspective - 'what's hot & what's not' - a guide to designing and operating the best spaces to enhance the residential experience.

We will be looking for panellists to offer their thoughts on the following topics:

• The student accommodation offer at their institution, organisation, or more broadly across the UK at present.
• What design and/or operational planning changes have enhanced the student experience in accommodation?
• What do you believe are the key considerations for students, and what more could be done to better meet expectations?

Andrew Howarth, Student First Group – Moderator

Olivia Brooks, VP Community & Welfare Nottingham Trent University Students’ Union

Scott Blakeway, Operations Director, MYS Living

Dido Graham, Senior Architect & Passivhaus Designer, Willmore Iles Architects

Joe Lay, Director of Accommodation, University College London

Alexandra Slater, Interim Director of Student Experience and Education, University of Reading

11.30 – 12.00

Break

12.00 - 13.00

2 Presentations followed by Panel Discussion

Presentation 1 - Aaron Porter, Higher Education Advisor & Trustee: What a changing & challenging higher education environment means for students, institutions and accommodation providers.

Presentation 2 - Ian Jones, Deputy Director of Accommodation & Commercial Services, University of Sheffield: What universities expect from accommodation providers & vice versa - good & bad trends and practices.

Panel discussion - Ian Jones, Aaron Porter, Jane Crouch (Chief Operating Officer, Fresh Student Living), Lee Rawlinson (Director, Homes for Students), Nadya Ghani (Welfare and Sustainability Officer, Sheffield University Students' Union)

Partnership essentials to develop the best student experience.

13.00 – 13.10

The importance of universities to the UK economy and society.

13.10 – 13.50

Lunch

Session 1:

13.50 - 14.20

Session 2:

14.25 - 14.55

3 recurring Unipol Thought Leadership snapshots

• Equipping accommodation teams to support student residents in need - Michael Lees, Director of Student Services, Nottingham Trent University.
• Supporting neurodiverse students in accommodation - Luke van der Kooij, Regional Student Support Manager, Unite Students.

14.55 - 15.25

Break

Session 3:

15.30 - 15.55

• Using technology to enhance the residential experience for the next generation of students - Clare Ody, Head of PBSA Operations, Kinetic. 

16.00 - 16.30

Victoria Tolmie-Loverseed, Unipol

The Unipol/ANUK National Codes of Standards and closing remarks.