2003-2004 Training Year: Overview

This year we are running 23 events in three main locations of York, London and Leeds. York and London have been chosen because of the ease of transportation for delegates and Leeds is used when we need to have access to our own housing portfolio for training purposes. This year, a larger number of training events are residential, allowing more time for delegate interactivity and group work. In some cases, events have been put next to each other to reduce travel costs.

Additionally to training, Unipol runs a successful E-mail discussion group at www.unipol.leeds.ac.uk/conferences /mailing.html. The conferences Website is always kept up to date and a post and E-mail mailing list is also run.

Style

Unipol aims its training, through different events, at all sectors of the student accommodation arena, ranging from student consumers, sabbatical student officers, those

giving housing advice and all of those involved in the provision of accommodation. Unipol also aims to keep its training methods and information up to date and this new programme reflects this. Small scale events and delegate participation is encouraged as is networking and the interchange and extension of good practice in the sector.

New for 2003-2004

This year half of our training programme is brand new: concentrating on health and safety, links with private sector suppliers, unfair terms of contract and disciplinary issues, the role and purpose of residential staff, refreshing knowledge and information for existing staff and looking at design and recruitment - all with an accommodation focus.

The recently published Housing Bill raises many interesting issues: not only licensing of the private sector but also the implementation of the Housing, Health and Safety Ratings System (HHSRS). On the main content of the Bill, Unipol will organise specific events throughout the year as it becomes apparent what legislation will actually take place. Unipol is beginning training on the HHSRS which will affect all student housing suppliers and,

regardless of licensing, will set the health and safety standard for all student accommodation.

There are several new modules looking at the developing relationship with large private sector suppliers of student accommodation. These modules will look at the types of linkages formed and at how to ensure that private suppliers meet the standards and timescales required from them by HEIs. On a different note, the increasing role of Housing Associations in providing student accommodation, often through subsidiary companies, will also be looked at. There have been developments in what constitutes unfair terms in contracts and the Office of Fair Trading has been busy in the area of accommodation contracts and whether institutions can withhold degrees for debt. A new training module will pick up these emergent themes.

There is a new two day seminar looking at the developing role of residential staff in student accommodation and a new refresher two day seminar for existing staff bringing together the changing regulatory and legal environment within which student accommodation operates.

Finally, there are two new one day conferences looking at the design of student housing and how student accommodation is marketed as part of the recruitment process.

Housing Management and Housing Rights

Remains at the centre of delivering a good service to student tenants and this is reflected in our ongoing commitment to providing practical and hands on training through three residential modules and several one day events looking at how to inspect a house and rent

collection. The Essential and Advanced Housing Advice courses remain popular as does the two day new housing management staff module.

Training Resources and the Training Team

We are fortunate that the best trainers in the sector are willing to assist us for much less than their normal fees. Hilary Crook from Denison Till solicitors and John Martin the barrister, continue to provide the backbone of our legal training team: both with different approaches and with an established and widespread expertise in this field. We are grateful to both of them for their help, support and ongoing interest in spreading best practice and stimulating debate and legal confidence. Other core speakers are Elizabeth Beattie from Edinburgh, Dr Ray Buss from Liverpool and Neil Marsden from Leeds City Council and Chair of ANUK. Unipol speakers include Martin Blakey and Matthew Guy, both with wide training experience. This year a wider range of specialist speakers is being used, bringing wider expertise into the training arena - our thanks go to all those willing to speak and share their experiences with us.

Over the last training cycle Unipol saw 1,987 delegates from students unions, local authorities, HEIs, RSLs and private sector suppliers.

Conclusion

We are looking forward to seeing you in our next training year and please feel free to give us any feedback or ideas for new events. Please keep in touch through or website or contact us at conferences@unipol.leeds.ac.uk.