W: www.universitybusiness.co.uk | T: @UB_UK


CAMPUS SERVICES | ASRA | 41


HIGH ACHIEVERS


This month Emma Stokes, ASRA training office, asks Paul Harris, Residential Service Manager at Anglia Ruskin University, to comment on challenges faced this summer, and what the future holds for university residential accommodation providers


As the evenings draw in, I look back on another intense summer of work in the Anglia Ruskin Residential Service that culminated in our busiest arrivals period ever. In common with many institutions, our work to lead up to arrivals began the moment the outgoing students vacated their rooms in June. Immediately following this we handed back a hall to Cambridge University that we had leased for an extended period, started large- scale infrastructure refurbishment of another hall, and moved summer schools and pre-sessional language students in to other halls. The amount of works to our residential


properties in both Cambridge and Chelmsford this summer was extensive. At Swinhoe we embarked on a 10-week


"I think it is inevitable we will continue to see increasing customer demands"


project to replace the entire piped water systems, along with individual boilers to shared kitchens, with all-new energy efficient plant. At Peter Taylor Hall, we redecorated the fourth and fifth floor external render, a significant project that could only be realistically achieved by engaging abseiling painters. At our Chelmsford Student Village we continued work on a rolling programme of flat refurbishments. This summer we accommodated more


pre-sessional language school students than ever before, which meant additional allocations considerations to ensure appropriate summer allocation, followed by ongoing accommodation in the context of balanced and integrated communities and fair prioritisation of on-campus rooms. As A-level results loomed, we again


established our ‘house hunting team’ to help those recruited via clearing find private sector accommodation, with our owned and managed accommodation more or less fully allocated by this point. And so began a busy period of recruitment and residential placement, with almost 1,000 students assisted by the house hunting team by the time they


disbanded in late September. Just prior to arrivals, I got a late night


call to advise that a new nominations hall was not going to be delivered on time. This prompted a challenging period of days when the provider was contacting students to try and delay their arrival by a few days. We also worked with them and our local colleagues at Cambridge University to source temporary alternative accommodation for those affected who did arrive. A very difficult few days, and a few more grey hairs added, but overall overcome by great teamwork. Arrivals weekend itself went well, and


culminated in our welcome ‘carnivals’ featuring bouncy castles, pop-up sports activities, and even a surf simulator. The food was well received by students, with 1,500 BBQ items given away. So what does the coming year hold?


I think it is inevitable we will continue to see increasing customer demands, both in the context of service and the products we are delivering. This year we saw a slight shift in students selecting modern and purpose-built student rooms in Cambridge, partly as a result of the new private sector options


being delivered. This will be a trend to watch, albeit we also continued to see strong demand from those seeking accommodation at the cheaper end of the price range. For those of us operating in relatively expensive locations the need to try and offer supply at all price points will continue and I suspect become increasingly problematic. In the context of customer service, we


are currently scrutinising the results of our dedicated arrivals survey, and hope for a further increase in our 'overall net promoter' ratings. Momentum on our ‘REC’ (recreational programme) for residents is also continuing. Events planned for the next few weeks include pumpkin carving, sports events and a ‘FIFA’ Xbox tournament. Having had our busiest arrivals


yet, we are also still seeking further student accommodation, and working with providers to source the right rooms, at the right prices, and with flexibility to meet the emerging needs of students studying pre-sessional courses and commencing substantive academic programmes at various points throughout the year. UB


LEFT: Paul Harris, Head of Residential Service, outside Peter Taylor House hall of residence


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80