Group to meet at Warwick Arts Centre CUBO Welcome Desk.  Introductions to the Warwick team and a brief history of the building and the University.

Please register here if you would like to attend the campus tour 

Enjoy lunch and networking with fellow members and partners.

Melissa Browne, CUBO Chair & Acting Director of Campus Services, University of Kent

Felicity Hannah

In an increasingly challenging financial landscape, this keynote addresses strategies for building robust commercial services within higher education. Discover innovative approaches to revenue diversification, sustainable business models, and best practice in balancing commercial success with academic mission.

Enjoy refreshments and networking with fellow members and partners.

Dr Paul Redmond

With growing numbers of students living at home, this timely session explores how universities can create inclusive, engaging experiences for commuter students. Learn about innovative approaches to campus design, timetabling, social integration, and support services that ensure all students feel part of the university community.

Melissa Browne, CUBO Chair & Acting Director of Campus Services, University of Kent

This years research focuses on Religion and Ethnicity on campus, Sarah Ead will share sector data exploring faith, ethnicity and belonging within student accommodation and the wider campus. 

Time Machine to 2036: Student Culture, Tech, and AI in on Campus

Simon James, Founder & CEO, Mike Ritchie, Digital Director and Hannah McCawley, Partnerships Manager, CampusLife

What will life on campus look like in ten years — and are you ready for it?

In this fast-paced, forward-looking session, we'll take you on a journey to 2036: a world where AI is reshaping how students live, connect, and thrive on campus. Drawing on emerging trends in technology, student culture and the evolving landscape of UK higher education, we'll cut through the hype and get practical about what's actually coming — and what CUBO members need to do about it now.

We'll explore how artificial intelligence is moving from back-office tool to frontline experience-shaper, transforming everything from how students find community to how your teams operate day-to-day.

We'll look honestly at the shifting nature of student identity — the rise of the portfolio career mindset, digital entrepreneurship and a generation that expects their living environment to support their whole self.

And we'll talk about what that means for you: the spaces you design, the services you offer and the staff you develop.

You'll leave with:
1.    A clear-eyed view of how AI can meaningfully enhance peer connection, living-learning communities and the student experience — beyond the buzzwords
2.    Practical ideas for creating environments that support student entrepreneurship, digital identity and collaborative living
3.    Frameworks for using technology to strengthen — not replace — the human relationships at the heart of student wellbeing

From Store to Ecosystem: Reimagining Campus Retail for Sustainable Performance

Jonathan Perry, Head of Franchise Development, Co-op Franchise

Universities are being asked to deliver more—on tighter budgets, with rising expectations and increasing pressure to operate sustainably. Efficiency alone is no longer enough.

This session explores how to rethink campus retail as an ecosystem, not a single store—bringing together the right mix of formats, micro formats, automated retail and digital access points to meet student needs across the day and academic year.

It will examine how aligning retail provision to student missions and campus rhythm can unlock underused space, improve partner viability, and create more resilient commercial models. The session will also highlight how an ecosystem approach can better balance student experience, commercial performance and sustainability.

Delegates will leave with a range of ideas to support more integrated, future ready campus services and a new perspective on how retail can contribute to long-term institutional value.

Residence Life Frameworks - Session details to be confirmed

Enjoy refreshments and networking with fellow members and partners.

Delivering Outstanding Member Benefits in Procurement and Professional Development.

Mike Haslin, CEO and Nicola Mellor, Head of Contracts,TUCO

This session will showcase how we actively support in-house catering teams to maximise value, strengthen capability, and future-proof their operations. Focusing on both procurement excellence and professional development, we will highlight the practical tools, frameworks, and opportunities available to our members.

Attendees will gain insight into how collaborative procurement initiatives drive cost efficiencies and unlock greater value. We will also explore our growing Learning & Development offer, designed to build skills, leadership, and resilience across catering teams.

Whether you are looking to reduce costs, enhance team capability, or strengthen your service offer, this session will provide a clear view of how membership delivers tangible, measurable benefits. Delegates will also receive our latest brochure, outlining the full range of support available.

Utilising Insight to Deliver Sustainable Commercial Performance

Becca Hayhurst and Phil Lewis, Unite Students

Each year, our Applicant Index gives us a clear, evidence based view of the students choosing to live with us — who they are, how they live, and what truly matters to them. These insights are critical in shaping not only our service proposition, but also the support we provide throughout their time with us.
 
In this session, we will share the headline findings from the Applicant Index for the Class of 2026, exploring key trends in expectations, preferences and behaviours. More importantly, we’ll go beyond the data to discuss how these insights are being actively used to inform our marketing and commercial strategies.
 
This is an open, practical discussion on adapting to an evolving student market, balancing commercial performance with wellbeing, and ensuring long term sustainability through informed, student led decision making.

Refurbishing Student Accommodation in Term Time. The Good, the Bad and the Unexpected

Tim Woodman-Clarke and Sioned Cash University of Warwick

Delivering refurbishment projects during term time is rarely the preferred option, but increasingly it’s the reality. This session shares a thoughtful and reflective account of undertaking accommodation works during term time, exploring the operational, financial, and reputational challenges that arise. From managing disruption and stakeholder expectations to navigating programme risks and unforeseen issues, we’ll reflect honestly on what worked, what didn’t, and what we’d do differently. Attendees will leave with practical insights, lessons learned and considerations to support their own decision-making when faced with similar constraints.

From curious to confident: A practical guide to AI transformation in Higher Education and student living.

Barry Anns, CEO and Rob Johnstone, Head of Product, Kinetic

AI is everywhere, but for many organisations in higher education and student accommodation, it still feels more like noise than opportunity. In this session, the Kinetic team cut through the hype to explore what AI transformation looks like in practice.

Drawing on real-world experience working across the HE and PBSA sectors, they'll challenge some of the most common assumptions holding organisations back and share a straightforward framework for identifying where automation and AI can make a genuine difference to your operations, your teams, and your residents.

Whether you're just starting to explore AI's potential or looking to build on early wins, this session will leave you with a clearer sense of where to focus, what to ignore, and how to move forward with confidence.

Conferences and Events as a Strategic Asset: Unlocking Value Beyond Revenue

Rachael Lee, Membership Director, Academic Venue Solutions and Sam Glenister-Batey, Deputy Director of Commercial and Business Development, University of Leeds and Vice Chair, Academic Venue Solutions

For many universities, conferences and events are still viewed as a secondary income stream, filling gaps, supporting accommodation and catering, and serving quieter periods. However, in today’s climate, that mindset is holding institutions back.

What if conferences and events were positioned as a strategic lever for growth, influence and impact?
This session challenges the traditional view and reframes conferences and events as a core part of commercial strategy. We’ll explore how they can actively support research ambitions, strengthen partnerships, enhance institutional reputation and unlock smarter use of estate.

Crucially, we won’t just talk about why this matters, we will focus on what needs to change. From operating models to mindset, we’ll unpack what a genuinely commercial approach looks like in practice, and how to evolve your offer to deliver more than just revenue.

Expect practical insight, honest discussion and ideas you can take back and apply immediately.

Performance across campus and commercial services.

James Ellerby, Senior Consultant, Russell Partnership Collection

This workshop will explore some of the key challenges facing campus and commercial services and opportunities to drive sustained performance, which balances experience, efficiency, and commerciality. The session will cover different operating models and the associated pros and cons, with group participation to share and discuss sector examples and best practices. 

Meeting Demand for Modernised University Accommodation

Robert Kingham, Director, Student First Group (SFG)

Robert Kingham, Director, Student First Group (SFG) talks about new research on the scale and the nature of the challenge facing UK universities in terms of the quality and quantum of student accommodation. The session will cover how much investment is needed across the UK, the extent of new and replacement accommodation required, the tipping point between refurbishing or redeveloping ageing halls, the undersupply in certain cities and the viability of delivery, and partnership options open to universities.

Bespoke Sustainable Menus

Clive Singleton and Mark Ralph, University of Warwick

A introduction to the many aspects of planning and thought process that surrounds the requirement of Bespoke Sustainable menus.

Mark and Clive will take you through the world of the various steps, questions and many aspects that are required to meet this daily requirement, ask and expectation by the wide range of customers at Warwick 

Enjoy lunch and networking with fellow members and partners.

Peter Moore, CEO & Founder, Lolly

Exploring the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on higher education and how institutions can prepare the next generation of students for an AI-driven world. This session will examine emerging technologies, ethical considerations, and the evolving skills landscape that will shape tomorrow's graduates

The Feedback Gap: What We Were Missing and What We Did About It 

Manish Shah, Director of Operations - Universities, Gather & Gather

We thought we had a pretty good handle on what our students thought. Turns out we were missing quite a lot. This session is about what better feedback practice revealed; and what we did, and are doing, about it.

Refurbish, Rethink, Reuse: Sustainable Transformation at Warwick Conferences

Andrew Taylor, Head of Conferences, University of Warwick

This workshop explores how Warwick Conferences has approached refurbishment with sustainability at its core—focusing on reuse over replacement, waste reduction, and balancing cost with long-term value.

Combining practical examples with open discussion, the session will encourage participants to share ideas, challenges, and best practice, helping to shape more sustainable approaches to refurbishment across the industry.

Reimagining Campus Staffing: Reducing Recruitment Costs and Creating Sustainable Commercial Income

James Mathers, Unitemps Franchise Relationship Manager

As universities face tighter budgets and increasing operational pressure across campus and commercial services, staffing models are becoming a much more important part of the financial picture. This workshop will explore how institutions can reduce reliance on reactive agency spend, make better use of internal recruitment budgets, and create a more sustainable commercial income stream through a university owned staffing model. Drawing on practical examples from across the Unitemps network, the session will look at how universities can build a more controlled, flexible, and commercially effective approach to temporary staffing and recruitment, while also strengthening employer partnerships and creating wider opportunities for students.

Beyond The Inbox: Smarter, Braver Student Communications.

Isaiah Fapuro, Senior Marketing & Communications Manager, LSE

Higher education communications teams are under increasing pressure to engage students more effectively, with tighter budgets, rising expectations, and an ever-expanding digital landscape. This one-hour, multi-speaker session will share practical, proven approaches to student communications, drawing on real-world experience from LSE. Delegates will leave with clear frameworks, tools, and confidence to review, evolve, and strengthen their own student communications strategies.
Aims of the session
By the end of the session, delegates will:
•    Have the tools and understanding to critically review and improve their student communications.
•    Understand cost-effective ways to maximise reach, relevance, and impact.
•    Gain insight into the latest and emerging platforms, tools, and technologies shaping student communications.

Enjoy refreshments and networking with fellow members and partners.

Allister Frost, Future-Ready Mindset thinker, author and speaker

The pressure is real, but universities can thrive when we embrace challenges with entrepreneurialism and passion. Allister Frost shares his empowering Future-Ready Mindset message to help you discover fresh commercial growth opportunities and proactively create the bright future you deserve.

Melissa Browne, CUBO Chair & Acting Director of Campus Services, University of Kent