In November 2023, we gathered for two days of insights, updates and networking for HE commercial services. Here's a taste of what we learned....

•          The Protect Duty: Whether or not Martyn's Law becomes law, it's best practice and the Manchester Arena Inquiry means we now know what should be done to protect against terrorism so we're already liable.  ACT training is free - the more eyes you have the better, so train not just security, but cleaners and front of house accommodation staff…
•          Student numbers: UCAS think the journey to a million is still on, but there will be bumps along the way.
• Student behaviour is changing. They now prioritise wellbeing and inclusivity. They are ambitious but worry about their and their family’s finances. 
• Sustainable food service: Olympia reduced its food service waste by 80%. There are lots of tools to navigate Scope 3 emissions, and for Scope 1 and 2, the ROI on energy efficient equipment is good. We should inspire and empower chefs to create sustainable menus, and publicise the progress we are making. Guardians of Grub resources and training are free.       
• Sport: Incentivizing inactive students with free offers is not only good for their budgets and wellbeing, but can lead to long-term interest in sport and sign-up to paid-for activities.
• Hospitality: There are more collaborating spaces in the workplace, with the need to consider safety, noise and hygiene. And there are demographic differences to be managed - the young don’t expect free or subsidized coffee at work, but older generations still do. People want more budget meals, but don't lose the “occasional dining” option.     
• Recruitment: HE can seem intimidating to job applicants. Publicise the HE employer value proposition (inclusive workplace, flexibility, pension, holidays, nursery on-site..) and give a point of contact pre-application. Think about language and be clear about the actual salary.  Use a stakeholder workshop to check behaviours and whether candidates will fit.
• Accommodation: What students actually want is not always what we think!  TPMS found that only 10% of international students want studios. 43% would consider sharing a room, and 69% want to live in flats of 2-4 people.
• Cross-generational teams are good. Diverse teams deliver 19% higher revenue, and cross-generational teams have more resilience, more skills, more diversity in outlook, plus mentoring and buddying across generations.

"A fantastic opportunity to meet others in the industry and learn new practices and solutions to current and future challenges." Gavin Brown, Chief Executive, Leicester Services Partnership, University of Leicester.

Thanks to our attending partners and sponsors