874.84 p (
+3.84) 
Corporate governance
Corporate governance underpins our culture, behaviour and how we conduct our business every day.
The Board leads the Company, oversees the governance of the Group and sets strategy. It plays a key role in setting the tone of the Group’s culture and values.
The management delivers the strategy within the framework and standards set by the Board, with the Board retaining responsibility for overseeing, guiding and holding management to account.
The Company follows the principles of best practice set out in the UK Corporate Governance Code underpinning long-term sustainable success. The Board discharges its responsibilities either directly or through its Committees.
Board
Our Board is formed of Executive and Non-Executive Directors who share a strong mix of expertise and experience.
Following the principles of best practice
Committees
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee oversees the financial reporting, risk management and internal control procedures.
Committee Composition
Ross Paterson
Ross joined Unite in 2017.
Skills and experience
Ross brings wide experience in finance, technology and compliance from Stagecoach.
External appointments
- Stagecoach Group plc (Finance Director)
- WCT Group Holdings Ltd (Non-Executive Director)
- Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (Business Policy Committee member)
Committee membership
- Audit Committee (Chair)
- Nomination Committee
- Remuneration Committee
- Sustainability Committee
Richard Akers
Richard joined Unite in 2018.
Skills and experience
Richard has more than 30 years’ experience in the real estate industry, with a focus on retail. He previously worked at Land Securities plc as an Executive Director on the main board and Managing Director of Retail. He was a Non-Executive Director at Emaar Malls PJSC, and Senior Independent Director at Barratt Developments plc.
External appointments
- Redrow plc (Chair)
- Shaftesbury plc (Non-Executive Director)
- Battersea Power Station Development Company (Advisory Board)
Committee membership
- Audit Committee
- Nomination Committee
- Remuneration Committee
- Sustainability Committee
Ilaria del Beato
Ilaria joined Unite in 2018.
Skills and experience
Ilaria brings 30 years of experience in real estate, including asset management, investment and lending. Previously she was CEO of GE Capital UK and led GE Capital Real Estate UK.
External appointments
- Frasers Property UK (CEO)
Committee membership
- Audit Committee
- Nomination Committee
- Health and Safety Committee
- Sustainability Committee
Professor Sir Steve Smith
Professor Sir Steve Smith joined Unite in April 2020.
Skills and experience
Steve brings with him a wealth of experience in the higher education sector and was previously Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Exeter. He led on higher education for the Prime Minister’s National Council of Excellence in Education and was knighted in 2011 for services to higher education locally and nationally.
External Appointments
- Liveable Exeter Place Board (Chair)
- Fulbright Programme (Trustee)
Committee membership
- Health and Safety Committee (Chair)
- Audit Committee
- Nomination Committee
Terms of reference
Health and Safety Committee
The Health and Safety Committee oversees the performance of the Group’s health and safety and helps drive the Group’s Safe and Secure promise.
Committee Composition
Professor Sir Steve Smith
Professor Sir Steve Smith joined Unite in April 2020.
Skills and experience
Steve brings with him a wealth of experience in the higher education sector and was previously Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Exeter. He led on higher education for the Prime Minister’s National Council of Excellence in Education and was knighted in 2011 for services to higher education locally and nationally.
External Appointments
- Liveable Exeter Place Board (Chair)
- Fulbright Programme (Trustee)
Committee membership
- Health and Safety Committee (Chair)
- Audit Committee
- Nomination Committee
Elizabeth McMeikan
Elizabeth joined Unite in 2014.
Skills and experience
Elizabeth brings extensive experience from customer-focused businesses, including Tesco and Colgate-Palmolive. Previously she was a Senior Independent Director of JD Wetherspoon plc, the Chair of Moat Homes Ltd and a Non-Executive Director at CH & Co Ltd.
External appointments
- McBride plc (Non-Executive Director)
- Dalata Hotel Group plc (Non-Executive Director)
- Fresca Group Ltd (Non-Executive Director)
- Custodian REIT plc (Senior Independent Director)
Committee membership
- Remuneration Committee (Chair)
- Health and Safety Committee
- Nomination Committee
Ilaria del Beato
Ilaria joined Unite in 2018.
Skills and experience
Ilaria brings 30 years of experience in real estate, including asset management, investment and lending. Previously she was CEO of GE Capital UK and led GE Capital Real Estate UK.
External appointments
- Frasers Property UK (CEO)
Committee membership
- Audit Committee
- Nomination Committee
- Health and Safety Committee
- Sustainability Committee
Dame Shirley Pearce DBE
Dame Shirley Pearce DBE joined Unite in 2019.
Skills and experience
Shirley has extensive experience in higher education, health and policing, and was previously Vice Chancellor of Loughborough University. She was appointed by the Secretary of State for Education as the independent reviewer of in 2019. She was appointed CBE in 2005 for services to education in the NHS and, in 2014, appointed DBE for services to higher education.
External appointments
- Committee on Standards in Public Life (Independent member)
- Higher Education Quality Assurance Panel for the Ministry of Education in Singapore
- Royal Anniversary Trust (Trustee)
- HCA (Advisory Board member)
- Association of University Administrators AUA (Hon President)
Committee membership
- Sustainability Committee (Chair)
- Remuneration Committee
- Nomination Committee
- Health and Safety Committee
Richard Smith
Richard became CEO in June 2016 after working as Unite Students’ Managing Director of Operations since 2011 and joining the business as Deputy Chief Financial Officer in 2010. Before Unite, Richard worked in the transport industry in the UK, on the Continent, and in North America and Australia, including 13 years at National Express Group. Richard is now also a Non-Executive Director for Stenprop Limited.
Terms of reference
Nomination Committee
The Nomination Committee reviews the structure, size, composition, skills and experience of the Board and focuses on succession planning with due regard to diversity.
Committee Composition
Richard Huntingford
Richard joined the Unite board on 1 December 2020 and became Chairman on 1 April 2021.
Skills and experience
Richard has more than 30 years of plc board experience, including as Chief Executive of Chrysalis Group plc and as a Non-Executive Director of Virgin Mobile Holdings (UK) plc. His Chairmanships have included Wireless Group plc, Creston plc and Crown Place VCT plc.
External appointments
- Future plc (Chair)
- JP Morgan Mid Cap Investment Trust plc
Committee membership
- Nomination Committee (Chair)
Elizabeth McMeikan
Elizabeth joined Unite in 2014.
Skills and experience
Elizabeth brings extensive experience from customer-focused businesses, including Tesco and Colgate-Palmolive. Previously she was a Senior Independent Director of JD Wetherspoon plc, the Chair of Moat Homes Ltd and a Non-Executive Director at CH & Co Ltd.
External appointments
- McBride plc (Non-Executive Director)
- Dalata Hotel Group plc (Non-Executive Director)
- Fresca Group Ltd (Non-Executive Director)
- Custodian REIT plc (Senior Independent Director)
Committee membership
- Remuneration Committee (Chair)
- Health and Safety Committee
- Nomination Committee
Ross Paterson
Ross joined Unite in 2017.
Skills and experience
Ross brings wide experience in finance, technology and compliance from Stagecoach.
External appointments
- Stagecoach Group plc (Finance Director)
- WCT Group Holdings Ltd (Non-Executive Director)
- Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (Business Policy Committee member)
Committee membership
- Audit Committee (Chair)
- Nomination Committee
- Remuneration Committee
- Sustainability Committee
Richard Akers
Richard joined Unite in 2018.
Skills and experience
Richard has more than 30 years’ experience in the real estate industry, with a focus on retail. He previously worked at Land Securities plc as an Executive Director on the main board and Managing Director of Retail. He was a Non-Executive Director at Emaar Malls PJSC, and Senior Independent Director at Barratt Developments plc.
External appointments
- Redrow plc (Chair)
- Shaftesbury plc (Non-Executive Director)
- Battersea Power Station Development Company (Advisory Board)
Committee membership
- Audit Committee
- Nomination Committee
- Remuneration Committee
- Sustainability Committee
Ilaria del Beato
Ilaria joined Unite in 2018.
Skills and experience
Ilaria brings 30 years of experience in real estate, including asset management, investment and lending. Previously she was CEO of GE Capital UK and led GE Capital Real Estate UK.
External appointments
- Frasers Property UK (CEO)
Committee membership
- Audit Committee
- Nomination Committee
- Health and Safety Committee
- Sustainability Committee
Professor Sir Steve Smith
Professor Sir Steve Smith joined Unite in April 2020.
Skills and experience
Steve brings with him a wealth of experience in the higher education sector and was previously Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Exeter. He led on higher education for the Prime Minister’s National Council of Excellence in Education and was knighted in 2011 for services to higher education locally and nationally.
External Appointments
- Liveable Exeter Place Board (Chair)
- Fulbright Programme (Trustee)
Committee membership
- Health and Safety Committee (Chair)
- Audit Committee
- Nomination Committee
Dame Shirley Pearce DBE
Dame Shirley Pearce DBE joined Unite in 2019.
Skills and experience
Shirley has extensive experience in higher education, health and policing, and was previously Vice Chancellor of Loughborough University. She was appointed by the Secretary of State for Education as the independent reviewer of in 2019. She was appointed CBE in 2005 for services to education in the NHS and, in 2014, appointed DBE for services to higher education.
External appointments
- Committee on Standards in Public Life (Independent member)
- Higher Education Quality Assurance Panel for the Ministry of Education in Singapore
- Royal Anniversary Trust (Trustee)
- HCA (Advisory Board member)
- Association of University Administrators AUA (Hon President)
Committee membership
- Sustainability Committee (Chair)
- Remuneration Committee
- Nomination Committee
- Health and Safety Committee
Thomas Jackson
Thomas joined Unite in 2019 following the acquisition of Liberty Living.
Skills and experience
Thomas brings wide-ranging real estate experience. He leads Canada Pension Plan Investment Board’s UK real estate business and its entry into student housing, life sciences and the built-to-rent sector. Previously, he was a Vice President in the real estate investment banking team at Macquarie bank and focused on mergers and acquisitions.
External appointments
- Canada Pension Plan Investment Board
Committee membership
- Nomination Committee
- Sustainability Committee
Terms of reference
Remuneration Committee
The Remuneration Committee determines the remuneration policy in consultation with shareholders for the remuneration of the Board and the implementation of this policy.
Committee Composition
Elizabeth McMeikan
Elizabeth joined Unite in 2014.
Skills and experience
Elizabeth brings extensive experience from customer-focused businesses, including Tesco and Colgate-Palmolive. Previously she was a Senior Independent Director of JD Wetherspoon plc, the Chair of Moat Homes Ltd and a Non-Executive Director at CH & Co Ltd.
External appointments
- McBride plc (Non-Executive Director)
- Dalata Hotel Group plc (Non-Executive Director)
- Fresca Group Ltd (Non-Executive Director)
- Custodian REIT plc (Senior Independent Director)
Committee membership
- Remuneration Committee (Chair)
- Health and Safety Committee
- Nomination Committee
Ross Paterson
Ross joined Unite in 2017.
Skills and experience
Ross brings wide experience in finance, technology and compliance from Stagecoach.
External appointments
- Stagecoach Group plc (Finance Director)
- WCT Group Holdings Ltd (Non-Executive Director)
- Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (Business Policy Committee member)
Committee membership
- Audit Committee (Chair)
- Nomination Committee
- Remuneration Committee
- Sustainability Committee
Richard Akers
Richard joined Unite in 2018.
Skills and experience
Richard has more than 30 years’ experience in the real estate industry, with a focus on retail. He previously worked at Land Securities plc as an Executive Director on the main board and Managing Director of Retail. He was a Non-Executive Director at Emaar Malls PJSC, and Senior Independent Director at Barratt Developments plc.
External appointments
- Redrow plc (Chair)
- Shaftesbury plc (Non-Executive Director)
- Battersea Power Station Development Company (Advisory Board)
Committee membership
- Audit Committee
- Nomination Committee
- Remuneration Committee
- Sustainability Committee
Dame Shirley Pearce DBE
Dame Shirley Pearce DBE joined Unite in 2019.
Skills and experience
Shirley has extensive experience in higher education, health and policing, and was previously Vice Chancellor of Loughborough University. She was appointed by the Secretary of State for Education as the independent reviewer of in 2019. She was appointed CBE in 2005 for services to education in the NHS and, in 2014, appointed DBE for services to higher education.
External appointments
- Committee on Standards in Public Life (Independent member)
- Higher Education Quality Assurance Panel for the Ministry of Education in Singapore
- Royal Anniversary Trust (Trustee)
- HCA (Advisory Board member)
- Association of University Administrators AUA (Hon President)
Committee membership
- Sustainability Committee (Chair)
- Remuneration Committee
- Nomination Committee
- Health and Safety Committee
Terms of reference
Sustainability Committee
The Sustainability Committee oversees the implementation of the Sustainability Strategy and helps ensure Unite Students is a responsible, resilient and sustainable business.
Committee Composition
Dame Shirley Pearce DBE
Dame Shirley Pearce DBE joined Unite in 2019.
Skills and experience
Shirley has extensive experience in higher education, health and policing, and was previously Vice Chancellor of Loughborough University. She was appointed by the Secretary of State for Education as the independent reviewer of in 2019. She was appointed CBE in 2005 for services to education in the NHS and, in 2014, appointed DBE for services to higher education.
External appointments
- Committee on Standards in Public Life (Independent member)
- Higher Education Quality Assurance Panel for the Ministry of Education in Singapore
- Royal Anniversary Trust (Trustee)
- HCA (Advisory Board member)
- Association of University Administrators AUA (Hon President)
Committee membership
- Sustainability Committee (Chair)
- Remuneration Committee
- Nomination Committee
- Health and Safety Committee
Richard Smith
Richard became CEO in June 2016 after working as Unite Students’ Managing Director of Operations since 2011 and joining the business as Deputy Chief Financial Officer in 2010. Before Unite, Richard worked in the transport industry in the UK, on the Continent, and in North America and Australia, including 13 years at National Express Group. Richard is now also a Non-Executive Director for Stenprop Limited.
Ross Paterson
Ross joined Unite in 2017.
Skills and experience
Ross brings wide experience in finance, technology and compliance from Stagecoach.
External appointments
- Stagecoach Group plc (Finance Director)
- WCT Group Holdings Ltd (Non-Executive Director)
- Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (Business Policy Committee member)
Committee membership
- Audit Committee (Chair)
- Nomination Committee
- Remuneration Committee
- Sustainability Committee
Richard Akers
Richard joined Unite in 2018.
Skills and experience
Richard has more than 30 years’ experience in the real estate industry, with a focus on retail. He previously worked at Land Securities plc as an Executive Director on the main board and Managing Director of Retail. He was a Non-Executive Director at Emaar Malls PJSC, and Senior Independent Director at Barratt Developments plc.
External appointments
- Redrow plc (Chair)
- Shaftesbury plc (Non-Executive Director)
- Battersea Power Station Development Company (Advisory Board)
Committee membership
- Audit Committee
- Nomination Committee
- Remuneration Committee
- Sustainability Committee
Ilaria del Beato
Ilaria joined Unite in 2018.
Skills and experience
Ilaria brings 30 years of experience in real estate, including asset management, investment and lending. Previously she was CEO of GE Capital UK and led GE Capital Real Estate UK.
External appointments
- Frasers Property UK (CEO)
Committee membership
- Audit Committee
- Nomination Committee
- Health and Safety Committee
- Sustainability Committee
Thomas Jackson
Thomas joined Unite in 2019 following the acquisition of Liberty Living.
Skills and experience
Thomas brings wide-ranging real estate experience. He leads Canada Pension Plan Investment Board’s UK real estate business and its entry into student housing, life sciences and the built-to-rent sector. Previously, he was a Vice President in the real estate investment banking team at Macquarie bank and focused on mergers and acquisitions.
External appointments
- Canada Pension Plan Investment Board
Committee membership
- Nomination Committee
- Sustainability Committee