2002-2003 Training Year: Second Semester Overview

Introduction

In the second semester Unipol Training is running 12 public events in London, York and Leeds.

Unipol Training was established in 1991 and has established itself as the main trainer in the niche market of student accommodation. Unipol continues to run all of its training on a not for profit basis.

Additionally to training Unipol runs an email discussion group for those involved in various aspects of student accommodation www.unipol.leeds.ac.uk/conferences/mailing.html and a mailing list both by post and E-mail to keep people up to date with Unipol training events.

The Second Semester Programme

In order to respond to the changing needs of the student accommodation sector at a time of rapid, but often variable and unpredictable growth in student numbers expecting to be assisted with their accommodation needs several new one day events are to be held:

Getting Student Allocations Right is a one day round-table event (to be held in London on Friday 14th March 2003) looking at how institutions can manage complex allocations policies in the light of accommodation guarantees, the unpredictability of international and postgraduate students attending and the actual mechanisms of allocations processes themselves. This will be a discussion led event with examples of practice from Loughborough, London, Leeds and Bradford.

Collecting Rent Efficiently (to be held in York on Monday 12th May 2003) is one day event looking at mechanisms for avoiding rent collection problems and will then go into a number of debt retrieval mechanisms open to providers.

Also new is a one day event focussing on On-Line Applications and Distance Selling (to be held in London on Tuesday May 13th 2003), looking at Shaftesbury Housings innovative on-line applications and allocations system and then moving through the day to look at the legal implications of distance selling. This is an opportunity to consider the mechanisms and implications of using technology and the Web to speed up on-line services.

Housing Management and Advice remains at the core of the programme. Managing Small Houses, looks at the specific issues of managing a variable portfolio of smaller properties and will be held on Monday 7th April 2003 in Leeds.

A revised module on the value of Accreditation for student private rented sector properties is being held in Leeds on Monday 28th April 2003 and provides an opportunity for those involved or interested in fast-growing accreditation to share experiences and see how certain schemes are developing around the country for the benefit of housing standards.

Between the 21st and 23rd May 2003 the popular residential Advanced Housing Advice Skills course is running in York and a few places are still available.

Legal Matters

There is a one day module on Unfair Terms of Trade, an area of increasing activity with the Office of Fair Trading, to be held in London on Friday 7th Match 2003.

The ever-popular Contracts Clinic is being held in London on 11th April 2003 with Hilary Crook answering questions and offering advice on your contractual issues.

On Friday 30th May 2003 in York is a one day course on how the Human Rights Act effects student accommodation and how it sets a base-line for standards of priority and management practice.

Forthcoming Events Still to be finalised:

Following the sell out conference on Parents from Hell this event is being repeated in London towards the end of June. The conference will look at the growing influence of parents in the selection, letting and management of student accommodation and how to respond to this "third party" involvement at a time of emotional stress.

In June 2003 Unipol is running a two day policy conference for senior staff. The agenda will be finalised by early March but issues to be covered include:

• The use and abuse of accommodation guarantees in marketing and why and how accommodation is an important marketing tool
• Recent research on student accommodation, what students really expect
• Developments in private sector accommodation providers: the growth of joint ventures and the decline of OJECs
• How to work with private accommodation providers and how to deal with competitors productively
• Accreditation, Deposits and Government Policy as it is likely to effect student housing standards - a voluntary or statutory approach
• The Growing importance of the Community in the living environment and what students add to urban living.

Unipol's commitment to exploring Universities and the Community is also reflected in a significant one day event to be held in Loughborough planned for late October 2003.

Training Resources and Unipol's Training Team

Once again, we are fortunate to have secured the services of Hilary Crook from Denison Till, solicitors and John Martin the barrister. Other core speakers are Elizabeth Beattie from Edinburgh, Dr Ray Buss, from Liverpool and Philip Moxon, a specialist independent environmental health officer. Unipol speakers include Martin Blakey, Matthew Guy and Simon Kemp, all with wide training experience. Specialist speakers from the sector will continue to supplement this core training team.

Friends of Unipol Training

This year, for the first time, Unipol is able to reward institutions that have made us an important part of their own training requirements. Those institutions will receive a 10% discount on all events booked with us throughout the year and will be designated "Friends of Unipol Training". For those institutions who do not have that status automatically, it is possible to become a Friend of Unipol Training by paying an initial fee of £45 and then claiming the loyalty bonus of all subsequent courses. A leaflet is available outlining how this system works.

The Unipol Training Web Site

The schedule of Unipol Training events is kept fully up to date on the web and details are displayed there first before mailings are undertaken. You can also use the website to check availability of places, conference agendas, speaker details and location of each event. If one of the events mentioned does not appear yet on the web, it means that details are still being finalised. New on the web is a follow-up information page with requests from delegates at conferences, this service is available to all Unipol training delegates.

Training Mission

Unipol training aims to interface specialist skills within the sector, provide information and an overview of core policy and operational issues and spread best practice. It encourages active participation from its many knowledgeable delegates. Reflecting the importance of those who work in a demanding and difficult sector, each event is held in a pleasant venue designed to maintain an atmosphere of professional informality. Ideas for future events are always welcomed from delegates and those attending are encouraged to be demanding to ensure their requirements are met, within the ever present constraints of available time.

Jarvis UPP

This year Unipol is delighted to announce that the training programme is being sponsored by Jarvis UPP as part of their commitment to promote best practice in student accommodation and Unipol's commitment to run an innovative, but affordable programme. Jarvis UPP are making a "without strings" single cash payment each year to Unipol for the next three years, which will enable Unipol to undertake more new events and keep prices down. Jarvis UPP have given Unipol full control over the programme and its content, reflecting their own commitment to honesty, transparency and getting the best deal.

We are looking forward to seeing you later this training year and I hope you keep in touch with Unipol and our web site.