CUBO Awards 2025

LSE launched its brand new merchandise store, LSE Shop, in January 2025. Combining student insight, global product research and high-end design, LSE Shop has quickly become one of the UK's premier student merchandise stores. Featuring collaborations like LSE x Nike alongside sustainable fashion and a sleek e-commerce platform, the shop delivers a premium experience both online and in-store. LSE’s innovative approach has increased sales by 42% with global distribution.

Swansea University Cycles, relaunched in September 2024, builds on the success of the original Santander Cycles scheme. With nearly 160,000 journeys to date, the scheme has become a key part of student life, as it supports sustainable travel, well-being and affordability. The recent upgrade includes enhanced bikes and low-cost memberships, ensuring inclusive access to a reliable and eco-friendly transport option during a time of rising living costs.

Reboot Gaming Café at Queen’s University Belfast is the first university-led gaming café of its kind in the UK and Ireland. Opened in August 2024, it offers a dynamic, alcohol-free social space featuring modern consoles, arcade games, esports facilities and a diverse café menu. Created through cross-departmental collaboration and student consultation, Reboot enhances student wellbeing and supports employability, aligning with the University’s vision for a transformative student experience.

Loughborough University successfully trialled and expanded a sector-leading solution to operational challenges and evolving student needs with Stockwell 2.0: AI-powered, self-service units offering 24/7 access to fresh food, snacks and drinks. Located in high-traffic areas, these smart micro-markets provide a frictionless and sustainable alternative to traditional vending. With over 21,000 transactions and rapid ROI, the initiative reduces waste and enhances operational efficiency whilst delivering the ultimate convenience for students.

King’s College London is pioneering sustainable dining through its Root-to-Tip initiative. By using more parts of edible plants - like stalks, roots, and seeds - the programme reduces food waste while improving nutritional value. A cross-disciplinary collaboration between academics, caterers, students, and TUCO, the project transforms KCL’s outlets into ‘living labs’ and will generate replicable recipes and scientific insights to reshape sustainable dining across the public sector.

At the University of Southampton, food is a central pillar of student life: from the empowering Kitchen School and sustainable Kitchen Garden, to vibrant pop-ups and inclusive global food events, catering has been used to effectively enhance social connection and support learning on campus. Through offering flexible and nutritious dining options, with student-led menus and eco-conscious innovations like smart vending, Southampton has created an enriching, student-focused university dining experience, gaining industry recognition for their innovation and commitment to sustainability.

Coventry University’s ResLife programme champions student wellbeing through inclusive events, training and peer-led support. The Futurelets team fosters an engaged community with initiatives ranging from mental health drop-ins and cultural campaigns to sustainability projects and cleanliness initiatives. Their diverse staff deliver impactful collaborations, such as a showcase event on minority mental health, and prioritise the student voice through regular feedback. With over 1,600 survey responses to the Investor in Students survey, the programme earned a Gold WAU Investor in Students award.

The University of London’s Residential Life Programme has dramatically improved student living with 471 wellness-focused events, common room upgrades, and sustainability-led initiatives. From yoga studios and gaming lounges to cultural celebrations and mental health training, the programme builds inclusive and supportive student communities. They have created a custom event scoring matrix to measure impact, raising the standard from bronze to silver and gold, and ensure that student feedback shapes everything from décor to dining.

University of Limerick Accommodation offers an exceptional residence life experience to over 2,900 students across eight sites. With 100+ free annual events, social spaces, and 24/7 support, the programme promotes wellbeing, community, and inclusion. The new UL Campus Life app enhances student engagement with real-time updates and parcel alerts, and the ability to book events. With 96% student satisfaction and innovative additions such as weekend reception hours and baking kits, Limerick sets a high bar for student living.

Swansea University’s Get ACTIVE programme offers inclusive, non-competitive sport that boosts student wellbeing, with over 26,000 attendances across 1,700+ free sessions. From football and archery to surfing and gorge walking, their Get OUTDOORS initiative embraces Swansea’s stunning coastal landscape. Led by trained Student Activators, the programme builds community, improves mental health, and engages diverse student groups to make sport accessible and enjoyable for all students.

At the University of Nottingham, sport is a powerful force for wellbeing and inclusion, and student insights shape their impactful sport programme. With over 20,000 students engaged and 13,500 sport and fitness members (the most in the UK) Nottingham leads the way in both participation and performance. Targeted initiatives have driven major engagement gains across underrepresented groups, while original social content and a sector-leading live-streaming platform showcase sport’s transformative impact on campus.

The University of Southampton champions an inclusive approach to sport, with their Active for All philosophy encouraging participation across all abilities and backgrounds. Combined with their £34m investment in state-of-the-art facilities at the new Jubilee Sport & Recreation Centre and initiatives like Exercise is Medicine and Empower weight training, Southampton promotes wellbeing through movement. Innovative collaborations and community outreach have increased engagement and transformed sport into a core pillar of student life.

DCU Rooms’ “Small Changes, Big Impact” campaign goes to show that sustainability and student satisfaction go hand in hand. By integrating eco-conscious choices like linen donation, plastic-free toiletries, and energy-saving tech, DCU significantly reduced waste and saved costs whilst improving the student experience. Innovations included a laundry app, Snapfix maintenance tech, and recycled-material vacuums. The initiative fosters sustainability and affordability, contributing to a thriving student living environment and saving over €5000 annually.

University of Limerick’s ‘Waste Race’ transformed student housing into a hub of sustainability and engagement. Launched with waste partner “Mr Binman”, the initiative leveraged friendly competition, education, and student-led communications to boost recycling by 28% and reduce general waste by 12%. Overcoming challenges around awareness and data tracking, the campaign empowered students, especially international residents, to live more sustainably whilst building community and delivering measurable environmental impact.

University of Nottingham Sport is leading the way in inclusive sport through targeted initiatives for Black, Disabled and LGBTQIA+ students. With a 63% increase in Black student engagement, 45% of Disabled students now participating, and tailored programmes supporting LGBTQIA+ inclusion, these initiatives are building a more representative and welcoming community for all. Students report stronger wellbeing and a deeper sense of belonging, showing the power of sport to drive positive change on campus.

The University of Bath has redesigned its accommodation process with a “pick-and-mix” model that prioritises inclusivity, flexibility and student wellbeing. Students can select housing that aligns with their values, from LGBTQ+ and mature student flats to alcohol-free, quiet, and vegetarian-friendly options, allowing students to live among like-minded peers. With a 29% increase in tailored housing requests and strong wellbeing scores from neurodivergent and LGBTQ+ residents, the initiative reflects Bath’s commitment to inclusive, student-centred living.

The University of Leicester’s ‘Black Food Innovators’ campaign spotlighted the culinary impact of Black culture while driving race inclusion across campus and the wider community. In partnership with John Lewis Leicester, the initiative used food, art and storytelling to celebrate Black heritage. With over 4,800 webpage visits and 30% growth in food outlet sales, the campaign successfully drove engagement whilst fostering belonging and championing diversity through collaborative action.

The University of Nottingham delivered the largest ever Touch World Cup, welcoming 187 teams from 39 nations and 10,000 daily visitors. Through a creative partnership between Nottingham Venues and University of Nottingham Sport, they transformed their campus into a world-class athlete village. With sustainable transport, tailored hospitality, and vibrant community engagement, the event generated an incredible £10m for the city and set a new benchmark for collaborative conferencing and sporting event delivery.

The University of Birmingham redefined sustainable conferencing with its fully carbon-costed “Green Conferencing Catering Package.” Every dish served is A-rated (under 500g CO₂e) and part of a broader strategy that includes ethical sourcing, zero single-use plastics and waste-to-energy initiatives. With 25,000 delegates expected to dine by August 2025, over 25 tonnes of carbon will be saved. Their holistic approach has earned national recognition, setting the bar for sustainability in the events industry.

Loughborough University transformed open day catering with their creative “Feed a Family of Four for £20” initiative. Blending affordability with quality, they wowed visitors with a food-court-style street market showcasing diverse and authentic cuisine, in a welcoming dining atmosphere that fostered a sense of belonging. This innovative approach boosted satisfaction, student enrolment rates, and catering revenue (growing by 151% from 2014 – 2024) and proving that thoughtful catering can be a powerful tool in student recruitment events.

Birmingham City University and BaxterStorey have built a dynamic partnership delivering inclusive, affordable and sustainable catering to a diverse university community. With initiatives including culturally rich pop-ups and a 40% discounted tariff during the cost-of-living crisis, the partnership combines operational excellence with social impact. With a £40 million contract renewal in 2023, the collaboration continues to evolve, enhancing wellbeing, celebrating diversity and supporting environmental goals across BCU campuses.

Lancaster University partnered with Howden and Health Assured to transform student mental health support through a 24/7 Student Assistance Programme. This fully integrated, university-branded service offers immediate access to counselling, legal, financial and wellbeing support. With over 2,300 student contacts and a 65% reduction in internal waiting times, the partnership delivers responsive, holistic care - enhancing student wellbeing while easing pressure on university services.

The University of Manchester and CampusLife developed a strategic, long-term partnership that is upgrading the student experience through digital innovation. Together they’ve launched scalable, interactive platforms for halls inductions, discipline education and ResLife Advisor training. Each platform is designed to improve engagement whilst reducing administrative burden. Through this data-driven approach that centres the student experience, this partnership models collaborative, future-focused student support.

Loughborough University’s rebranded RentSMART campaign empowered students to make informed housing decisions by promoting both private and university accommodation options. A dynamic, student-focused campaign across digital and in-person channels achieved record-breaking engagement, with over 2,900 return-to-halls applications and an amazing 455k Instagram views. A model of collaboration and creativity, RentSMART successfully influenced behaviour and improved transparency in student housing decisions.

The University of Leicester’s Black Food Innovators campaign celebrated Black History Month 2024 through a community-driven initiative led by the Food and Drink team. Through powerful partnerships that included a collaboration with John Lewis Leicester, the campaign blended storytelling with culinary celebration and cultural education to amplify Black voices and heritage. It delivered strong engagement, increased sales and meaningful social impact, aligning with the University’s wider mission of inclusion and belonging.

The University of Birmingham’s Food Fellows campaign brought to life its core values of authenticity, sustainability and inclusivity through a year-long series of imaginative, student-led competitions. From designing custom drinks to celebrating leftovers and launching a new loyalty app, the campaign generated powerful engagement, boosted app downloads and deepened student connection to campus food values. This campaign made responsible catering both accessible and exciting, gaining over 130,000 combined impressions.