Directorate Change

RNS Number : 1220X

Unite Group PLC

01 December 2010

 



1 December 2010

UNITE APPOINTS PROFESSOR TIM WILSON AS NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The UNITE Group plc, the UK's leading developer and manager of student accommodation, today announces the appointment, with immediate effect, of Prof. Tim Wilson as an additional Non-Executive Director of the Company.

Tim, 61, was appointed Vice Chancellor of the University of Hertfordshire in September 2003, following an academic career with Leeds Metropolitan, Cranfield and De Montfort universities.  As well as serving on the Board of the Higher Education Funding Council for England he has been a Board member of East of England Development Agency for six years and also Deputy Chair of the CBI Innovation, Science and Technology Committee.  He is Trustee of the Council for Industry and Higher Education and is a strong advocate of the role of universities in economic development.  He is also acknowledged as one of the leading thinkers in university/business collaboration.

Phil White, UNITE's Chairman, commented:

"The Higher Education sector is undergoing enormous change and so it is even more important for UNITE to continue to enhance its relationships. We are very pleased to welcome Tim to the Board at this important time in the evolution of the sector and the Company and look forward to benefiting from his insight and extensive experience."            

Tim Wilson added:

"I have been really encouraged by the long-term strategy of UNITE to develop its position in this exciting marketplace. I hope that I can help the Company to even greater success as we face up to the challenges and opportunities ahead, working closely with universities through some of the most significant financial and strategic changes in their history."        

No further information is required to be disclosed pursuant to Listing Rule 9.6.13R.

ENDS

For further information, please contact:

The UNITE Group plc Mark Allan, Chief Executive Joe Lister, Chief Financial Officer	Tel: [phone]
Financial Dynamics Stephanie Highett Dido Laurimore Laurence Jones	Tel: [phone]

About The UNITE Group

The UNITE Group is the UK's leading developer and manager of student accommodation, with a business model that focuses on four core areas;

1.   Development: UNITE undertakes the acquisition, planning and development of purpose-built student accommodation in the UK.

2.   Professional property management: UNITE is home to some 38,300 students and has consistently achieved high occupancy levels across its portfolio.

3.   Proactive asset management: Through the continuous assessment of quality and location of its investment portfolio, UNITE are well positioned to deliver value adding strategies to those assets where further opportunities are identified.

4.   Co-investing asset management: Working on behalf of its partners, UNITE acts as Fund Manager for the UNITE UK Student Accommodation Fund in addition to holding a 16.3% stake.  UNITE also manages a number of Joint Venture partnerships.

UNITE works closely with universities and colleges, in order to deliver high quality, well-located student accommodation at affordable prices in strong higher education markets.

Founded in 1991, UNITE is listed on the London Stock Exchange (UTG).

The UNITE UK Student Accommodation Fund

UNITE established the UNITE UK Student Accommodation Fund at the end of 2006.  The Fund helped transform UNITE's business model to that of a developer of new purpose-built student accommodation and manager of funds which own student accommodation properties operated by UNITE and in which the Company has a significant minority stake.

The Fund's portfolio comprises 19,994 bed spaces in 59 properties across 19 UK markets.  The number of unitholders in the Fund is over 100.

www.unite-group.co.uk

www.unite-students.com

 

END

 

 

BOAFDMFWSFSSEIF