Unipol Training

For the full programme that is constantly updated visit http://www.unipol.org.uk/training/

This year's programme builds on the success of the previous year when over 1,200 delegates from 277 different institutions supported our events.

Unipol Training aims to meet skills needs throughout the student accommodation sector and the programme of seminars, courses and conferences covers both new and emerging themes to keep experienced staff fully up to speed with issues in the accommodation world as well as providing practical, hands on training for those working in housing management or advising students about accommodation.

Unipol Training also gears itself to meet the different demands within the sector ranging from educational establishments and students' unions (both FE and HE) to private sector suppliers who together house some 1.6 million students. Training is also designed to reflect the mix of different types of institutions with different types of delegates to stimulate thoughts, ideas and the spread of best practice without being unproductively directive: delegates choose what they need to know and take from courses what is important to them in running and improving the services they offer.

The agendas are designed to involve the best experts in the sector and be participative and interactive. The most successful events are where delegates and experts interact in a two way process that benefits all.

There are a number of new themes:

· educational institutions are again experiencing growth in residential requirements and private providers are intensifying their efforts in London and the South East as new development slows elsewhere

· regulation and legislation already enacted is beginning to work fully into the system and more is on the way

· the credit crunch and economic change with higher inflation will continue to affect, and in some cases restructure, the sector throughout the year

· social networking is becoming increasingly important. Continually improving the Student Experience and customer satisfaction has never been more important

· government policy will continue to develop with the launch of the Review on the Private Rented Sector by Dr Julie Rugg in October. There is pressure for additional licensing and changing the Planning Legislation. Unipol's close links with policy makers and formulators will keep delegates fully up to speed with the relevant outcomes from these areas of policy developments

· sustainability issues grow in importance not only affecting building management but tenant behaviour to meet a sustainable agenda.

All of these changing and emerging issues are covered and new events will be added throughout the year to respond to new needs and horizons.

The development of student care continues to be essential in running a successful student accommodation operation: improving social programmes, identifying inter-tenant friction, using mediation and conflict-avoidance techniques and confronting anti-social behaviour are all covered, as is the interplay between care, management and discipline.

The role of residential staff and student wardens together with establishing a self-balancing student community is an important goal.

Good quality, relevant and practical advice is always an important part of getting the best from human resources. Several courses are geared to inducting new staff and keeping experienced staff fully up to speed with the latest successful housing management techniques. Networking with others and maintaining motivation in routine areas are also important goals in human resource development.

Unipol training uses the best legal advisers in the country to explain and relate complex legislation specifically to the student accommodation process. Deposit protection, property licensing, the Approved Codes of Practice, Energy Performance Certifications, on-line applications and lettings, anti discriminatory legislation, unfair terms of trade and the very notion of tenancy itself make for a complex web of statutory and regulatory obligations that is comprehensively covered in these seminars.

Has never been more important and standards are changing. The recent national fire guidance from LACORS will impact through Local Authority and Fire and Rescue Service requirements as the year goes on. Risk assessment and the maturing and increasing use of the Housing Health and Safety Ratings System, all impact directly on student accommodation- but how?

Students are an important part of the community but there are real challenges facing accommodation providers relating to lifestyle differences. High density occupation can result in additional litter, waste and noise. How are these challenges to be met and what actually works to improve neighbourhood relations? What role has accreditation to play in setting and maintaining standards for students throughout all the years of a student's housing experience?

This year Unipol training, with your support, aims to cover all of these bases. Practical hands-on information, the dissemination of best practice, institution talking to institution, the improving of management techniques and standards and the creation of a well trained, well informed human resource base driving the sector to higher and better achievements is the objective for us all. The 2008-2009 training programme will deliver just that.

Unipol can undertake a number of dedicated training events for individual institutions, either at their own institution or here in Leeds at Unipol's newly developed training facility. This training can be much more focussed to specific needs and is highly cost effective. To discuss your training needs contact conferences@unipol.leeds.ac.uk

Many educational institutions use us time and time again for training their staff and, in recognition of their support Unipol runs a discount scheme that makes their delegate cost more cost effective. Being a Friend gives a 10% discount to all training events, together with priority booking for popular events.

For more information and to join the scheme go to http://www.unipol.org.uk/National/Training/Friends_of_Unipol_Training/