– UK, Bristol – Unite Group plc (LSE:UTG), the UK’s largest provider of student accommodation, announces that Ross Paterson will join its Board as a Non-Executive Director, with effect from today.
Ross Paterson is a member of the Board of Stagecoach Group plc with responsibility for finance, technology and compliance. He has extensive experience of managing finance in complex operational environments. Ross is currently Finance Director and has also previously held the role of Company Secretary.
In addition, he is a non-executive director and Audit Committee Chair of Virgin Rail Group Holdings Limited, and a member of the Business Policy Committee of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland.
Phil White, Chair of Unite, commented: “Ross brings a wealth of experience to Unite’s Board gained from his many years managing finance in a complex operational business like our own. He also brings valued insight into innovation through digital as we continue to enhance our service offer for students via technology. We look forward to welcoming him.”
Ross Paterson added: “Unite Group has a strong track record in a fast-growing industry. I am excited to be joining the Board of Unite as it looks to build further on its success to date.”
About Unite Students
Unite Students is the UK’s largest and most established manager and developer of purpose-built student accommodation. It provides a home for around 50,000 students, in more than 140 properties, across 24 leading university cities in England and Scotland. Unite works in partnership with more than 60 Higher Education institutions and also lets rooms directly to students.
Unite’s purpose is to provide a home to its culturally diverse customers, offering them a strong foundation for academic and personal success. The accommodation is high quality, safe and close to university campuses, transport links and local amenities. Students live in ensuite study bedrooms with rents covering all bills, insurance, 24-hour security, fortnightly cleaning of communal kitchens and bathrooms and high-speed Wi-Fi.
Founded in 1991 in Bristol, the Unite Group plc is a FTSE250 company, listed on the London Stock Exchange, employing more than 1,400 people. It pursues a sustainable growth strategy, designed to make the most of the resilient nature of the student accommodation sector. Unite is focused on maintaining its position as the leading provider of student accommodation in the UK, by having the best brand, operating the highest quality portfolio and maintaining the strongest capital structure in the sector. This is achieved with consistent investment in, and improvement to, the operating platform; highly selective development activity and asset management initiatives.
Unite is invested in and operates two specialist funds and joint ventures with institutional investment partners, the £2 billion Unite UK Student Accommodation Fund (USAF) and the £1 billion London Student Accommodation Vehicle (LSAV).
Unite is the founder and major donor of the Unite Foundation. Since 2012, this has provided free student accommodation and financial support to 160 young people in the UK who lack family support.
For more information : http://www.unite-students.com
- Disclaimer - News, data, and statements included in this release are intended exclusively for general information purposes. Talent4Boards does not guarantee that news is accurate or about the correct person and accepts neither liability for the consequences of the reader’s reliance, nor responsibility for the accuracy of the information. Nothing in this release should be considered for decisions about referred securities. Products and brand names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
