 | |
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Student accommodation |
| Founded | 1991 |
| Founder | Nicholas Porter |
| Headquarters | Bristol, England, UK |
Key people | Richard Huntingford (Chair) Joe Lister (CEO) Michael Burt (CFO) |
| Products | Student accommodation (halls of residence) |
| Services | Property investment anddevelopment |
| Revenue |  £299.3 million (2024)[1] |
| £168.1 million (2024)[1] | |
| £441.8 million (2024)[1] | |
Number of employees | 2,000 (2025)[2] |
| Website | www |
The Unite Group (trading asUnite Students) is a British developer, owner and operator of purpose built student accommodation (PBSA).[3] The company is listed on theLondon Stock Exchange and is a constituent of theFTSE 250 Index.[4]
The Unite Group was founded by Nicholas Porter inBristol, England, in 1991.[5] Aged 21 and following research with theUniversity of the West of England, he recognised a growing demand for student accommodation.[6] After a period of expansion within Bristol, in 1998 Unite opened its first properties in London. It listed on theAlternative Investment Market the following year.[7]
In 2000 the business moved its share register to the London Stock Exchange, and opened properties in Manchester, Liverpool and Portsmouth.[8] During the following decade, Unite created investment vehicles to secure growth in London, across England and into Scotland. Of these vehicles, The Unite UK Student Accommodation Fund (USAF[9]) is Europe's largest fund focusing solely on direct-let student accommodation.[10] In 2006, Porter announced he was stepping down as chief executive. He was succeeded at the end of the year bychief financial officer Mark Allan.[11]
By 2011 the business had grown to 40,000 beds. It remains the UK's largest provider of student accommodation by capacity,[12] but second toIQ Student Accommodation by value of its portfolio of property.[13]
In 2012 it founded charitable trustThe Unite Foundation, which provides free accommodation and a cost-of-living allowance to students from "challenging circumstances".[14] In April 2014 Unite renamed itself "Unite Students". Simultaneously, it launched its "Home for Success" corporate philosophy; which it describes as its "business purpose". The Home for Success announcement included a £40m reinvestment of profits into the business and 16 "signature commitments", all of which relate to an improved student experience.[15]
Unite Group converted to a real estate investment trust with effect from 1 January 2017.[16]
In November 2019, the Competition and Markets Authority approved the proposed acquisition by the company of its competitor, Liberty Living, for £1.4 billion.[17] The transaction was completed in December 2019.[18]
As of 2024[update], the company provides residential accommodation to around 68,000 students across 152 buildings across the UK,[3] and is the largest and oldest PBSA provider in the country.[19]
In addition to owning a portfolio of its own properties, Unite operates properties on behalf of two investment funds that it part owns:[20]
| Image | Property | Location | Beds | Portfolio | Acquired or completed | Divested | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Artisan Heights | Manchester | 603 | 2020 | Purpose built by Unite.[21] | ||
 | Broadcasting Tower | Leeds | 241 | USAF | 2015 | Developed by Downing in 2009, acquired by USAF in 2015.[22] | |
 | Bridgewater Heights | Manchester | 525 | 2020 | Part of the acquisition of Liberty Living.[23] | ||
 | Dorset House | Oxford | 313 | 2024 | Purpose built by Unite.[24] | ||
 | Grand Central | Liverpool | 1,210 | 2003 | Purpose built by Unite.[25] | ||
 | Marketgate | Bristol | 505 | 2001 | Converted from a 1970 office building by Unite for £4M.[26] | ||
 | Newgate Court | Newcastle upon Tyne | 575 | 2018 | Purpose built by Unite for £32M.[27] | ||
 | Rushford Court | Durham | 363 | 2018 | Mix of purpose built and renovation by Unite.[28] | ||
.JPG) | Sky Plaza | Leeds | 533 | 2009 | Purpose built by Unite.[29] | ||
.jpg) | Tŷ Pont Haearn | Cardiff | 642 | 2020 | Part of the acquisition of Liberty Living.[30] |
