Winter Conference - Insights for Impact

15 & 16 November 2023

College Court, University of Leicester

Winter Conference Round-Up

In November 2023, we gathered in Leicester for topical insights, sector updates, fantastic networking with peers and business partners, and a first-hand look at the University of Leicester's commercial services strategy.

Here's a taste of what we learned....

The Manchester Arena Inquiry means we know what should be done to protect against terrorism and are therefore already liable. The more people you train – ACT is free - the more eyes you have. Not just security, but cleaners, front of house accommodation staff…
UCAS’s journey to a million is still on, but with bumps along the way.
Student behaviour is changing. They prioritise wellbeing and inclusivity, have ambition but worry about their and their family’s finances, and don't expect the same experience.
Olympia reduced its food service waste by 80%. There are lots of tools to navigate Scope 3 emissions, and for Scope 1 and 2, the ROI on energy efficient equipment is good. Inspire and empower your chefs to create sustainable menus, and if you’ve saved energy, let your staff and students know. Guardians of Grub resources and training are free.
Incentivizing inactive students with free offers is not only good for budgets and wellbeing, but is sparking interest in sport and sign-up to paid-for activities.
Hospitality is seeing a growth in collaborating spaces in the workplace, with the need to consider safety, noise and hygiene. There are demographic differences to be managed - the young don’t expect free or subsidized coffee at work but older generations still do.
People want more budget meals, but keep the “occasional dining” option.
HE is unique and can seem intimidating to job applicants. Publicise the HE employer value proposition (inclusive workplace, flexibility, pension, holidays, nursery on-site) and give a point of contact pre-application. Think about language and be clear about the actual salary. Use a stakeholder workshop to check behaviours and whether candidates will fit.
What students actually want is not always what we think! Only 10% of international students want studios. 43% would consider sharing a room, and 69% want to live in flats of 2-4 people.
Diverse teams deliver 19% higher revenue. Cross-generational teams have more resilience, more skills, more diversity in outlook, with mentoring and buddying across generations.