19 April 2024 
Jan Capper, CUBO Executive Director
As I sit down to reflect on the inaugural CUBO North of England Regional Meeting, held at the University of Sheffield (while I’m absolutely exhausted!), I am filled with a sense of accomplishment and excitement for what lies ahead. Back in September, when I expressed my interest in becoming the North of England Regional Lead for CUBO, little did I know that this journey would culminate in orchestrating a gathering of higher education professionals passionate about sharing ideas and best practices.
Months of planning and coordination led to the realisation of this event, which brought together 16+ individuals representing various institutions across the region. Our agenda was carefully curated to encompass diverse topics, ensuring there was something valuable for every attendee. Granted the Building Safety Act was probably a bit niche, but at least I got some nods and polite smiles...
One of the key discussions revolved around the impact of allergies and intolerances on our business, particularly from the perspectives of accommodation and catering. This session sparked great conversations and highlighted the importance of accommodating diverse dietary needs within our institutions. There’s certainly some food for thought on how we treat those with allergies and follow alternative diets.
Another highlight was the research-driven session titled 'They threw me the keys and said don’t mess up!' This thought-provoking presentation delved into the challenges faced by some colleagues and perhaps how we, as HE professionals, can work to ensure private sector colleagues are equipped with the contacts who can best support our students in their time of need.
We were also treated to a session titled 'Our Strategic Journey' in Sport & Physical Activity, complemented by a tour of the newly refurbished Goodwin Fitness suite. This provided attendees with a firsthand glimpse into innovative initiatives in sports facilities management. While I love St. Vincent’s Place, I can’t believe I missed this - I 100% need to get booked in myself!
For me, personally, this experience was immensely rewarding. As someone who has a history of organising events for students, the responsibility of curating an event for my peers felt particularly significant. However, the support and enthusiasm of fellow CUBO members made the process both enjoyable and enriching.
Moreover, this gathering served as a platform for networking and forging connections with like-minded professionals facing similar challenges. The opportunity to exchange ideas and perspectives reinforced my belief in the power of collaborative learning within our industry.
Looking ahead, I am excited about the potential for future regional meetings to further facilitate knowledge-sharing and collaboration among CUBO members in the North of England. As we continue on this journey together, I am confident that our collective efforts will contribute to the advancement of higher education management practices in our region, CUBO Summer/Winter Conference and then the world.
In conclusion, hosting the first CUBO North of England Regional Meeting was a fulfilling experience, underscoring the value of community, collaboration, and continuous learning within our sector.
As you’d expect, none of this would have been possible without the hard work and dedication of our speakers, so a big thank you has to go to them. Also to the INOX and WithUs team for an incredible venue and service throughout the day, making everything run so smoothly.
Ultimately, Communities such as CUBO are nothing without their members. As I mentioned in the room, we only benefit from events like this where our ideas are shared and challenged. While we work within the same region, approaches and ideas can vary within individual cities, let alone in a region as diverse as the North of England! We’re in the privileged position where we can use each other as a soundboard for the benefit of our students. If you want to help shape the future of events of this nature, I’d love to hear from you!
One thing we also discussed was the benefit of Regional Group meetings - They’re free to attend and also provide an opportunity for those who aren’t necessarily as involved in CUBO as they’d like to be to come and understand the hype compared to a full-blown conference. While it may seem that some people within the sector have all the answers, you’d be amazed at what goes on behind the scenes with private messages where you end up second-guessing yourself. If nothing else, events like this are a great opportunity for free group therapy with free tea and coffee and some amazing pastries!
