41061 Unite AR22 HI-RES WEB-READY - Flipbook - Page 12
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THE UNITE GROUP PLC | Annual Report and Financial Statements 2022
BUSINESS MODEL continued
THE VALUE WE CREATE
STUDENTS
OUR PEOPLE
UNIVERSITIES
Key issues
Key issues
Key issues
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Value-for-money
Customer service
Safety and welfare support
Learning and development
Diversity, equity and inclusion
Health, safety and wellbeing
Student welfare
Operational performance
Health and safety
How we engaged
How we engaged
How we engaged
Our front-line property teams engage
with students on a day-to-day basis,
supplemented by peer-to-peer
support provided by our Resident
Ambassadors. We also engage with
students using our MyUnite app and
social media channels.
We held four sessions of our
employee engagement forum,
Culture Matters, during the year
with attendance by Non-Executive
Director, Ilaria del Beato. Feedback
from our representatives has helped
to inform the review of our peoplerelated policies.
Through our Higher Education
Engagement team, we meet
regularly with leaders across the
UK University sector. We engage
at various levels in institutions
for discussions ranging from
strategic planning to day-to-day
operational requirements.
We hold regular ‘Unite Live’ sessions
with our CEO and key senior leaders
to provide business updates with the
opportunity to ask questions.
In addition, we engage actively
in the wider Higher Education
sector, presenting at conferences
and contributing to Higher
Education research.
This is complemented by our
customer research programme
which includes surveys on specific
issues, including student views on
climate change.
Value creation in 2022
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Increased peer-to-peer support
for students through our Resident
Ambassador programme
Supported the award of
accommodation scholarships
to 100 students through the
Unite Foundation
Re-launch of our Leapskills
programme for school leavers
in partnership with UCAS
We conduct regular employee
engagement surveys with findings
shared with our teams to help jointly
develop action plans.
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Provided 37,000 beds to
Universities for the 2022/23
academic year
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Delivered University partnership
developments for University of
Bristol and King’s College London
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Publication of ‘Living Black at
University’ report
Value creation in 2022
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One off payment to help with costof-living pressures
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Launch of our Diversity, Equity,
Belonging & Wellbeing strategy,
We are US
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Launch of the Academy offering
a personalised, tailored, learning
experience for our teams
Priorities for 2023
We remain focused on delivering a
Home for Success for the students
who live with us. In 2023, we are
focused on improving the customer
experience through a range of
initiatives. This will include testing new
design concepts for our bedrooms,
kitchens and amenity spaces ahead
of a roll-out in our new developments
and refurbishment projects. We are
also investing to upgrade our PRISM
technology platform to deliver an
improved end-to-end experience for
students from the point of booking,
through their time with us and
ultimately when they leave.
Value creation in 2022
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Enhanced leave for
non-birthing parents
Priorities for 2023
Our focus is to provide our
employees with a great place to work.
In 2023 we will focus on delivering
on our talent agenda by investing
in our learning and development
programmes through The Academy
and continuing our focus on diversity,
equity, inclusion and belonging.
Priorities for 2023
Supporting the growth ambitions
of our University partners through
nomination agreements and
strategic partnerships.
To progress these objectives,
we have increased the resource
allocated to strategic engagement
with Universities regarding their
accommodation estates.