Sodexo enters private student accommodation sector

Student Living by Sodexo has announced its appointment by Kier, the leading property and construction group, to oversee the booking and management of Oxford House, Keir’s first direct let property in Newcastle.

This is Student Living by Sodexo’s first project with Kier in the private student accommodation sector where Student Living will be responsible for marketing, booking and rent collection as well as student services, facilities management and waste management.

To coincide with the launch of Oxford House and to showcase other university properties in the Sodexo portfolio, a new website has been developed which will allow students to research and book properties online.

Steve Hawkins European director for Student Living by Sodexo said; “Our partnership with Kier is an exciting new phase for the Student Living brand. We will continue to look at opportunities to work with developers and investors to increase our presence in the private student letting market in both the UK and Europe”

Tom Gilman, managing director of Kier Property North added; “Sodexo’s reputation and experience in managing both integrated facilities and student services was a key factor in our decision making process.”

“This is our third student accommodation project, having completed schemes in Salford and Glasgow.  We see Newcastle, and in particular this site, as a key location for our student accommodation portfolio to successfully grow and offer the students of today the opportunity to live in a modern, affordable and exciting environment. This development further increases Kier’s property exposure and investment in Newcastle and the north-east.”

Located in the heart of Newcastle, and within walking distance of Newcastle and Northumbria universities, Oxford House will be completed in time for the September 2017 intake of students. The accommodation comprises of three buildings incorporating a mix of studios and cluster flats with shared social and kitchen space. In addition, the development will provide a vibrant communal hub consisting of a dedicated study area, movie room, social space, games area, bike storage and courtyard.

Student Living by Sodexo was first launched in the UK at the end of 2013 to bring together the extensive portfolio of student living services that Sodexo offers to support investors and developers entering the private student accommodation sector. These services include marketing, booking, lettings and finance management as well as student services such as pastoral care, through to facilities management, waste management, catering and retail services.

Over the last three years, Student Living by Sodexo has steadily built its portfolio of the number of student beds it manages in the UK to almost 10,000, with the ambition to grow this to 20,000 beds by 2020 across the UK and Europe.