Each year, the Students’ Union takes time to reflect on our work, this includes reviewing our services, listening to student feedback, and learning how we can better support students. This annual review is a chance to celebrate progress, recognise challenges, and share how student voices have driven meaningful change across the University.

2025 was a year summarised by growth and change...

In our Students' Union Leadership Elections, over 300 students submitted their nominations and 6000 students casted their votes, which is 23% of all students, an increase from 17% in 2024.

With the new Officer Team, we...

• Took on the leadership of the Sports Centre, to share affordable health and fitness opportunities, including gym, physiotherapy, scholarships and fitness classes for our students within Coventry.
• Achieved the Advice Quality Standard award, a rigorous process that ensures our members are supported to the highest of standards.
• Opened a dedicated events space called Square One and hosted a variety of student-focused events.
• Launched the Lounge, a neuro-inclusive space with three sensory rooms.
• Increased our merchandise offer so students can represent and connect with their School, College or Campus.
• Won a National Union of Students Award for having the highest growth in Catering of any Students’ Union in the UK.
• Introduced affordable Trips and Tours in partnership with UniLife.
• Won the National Student Pride Award for being the most inclusive Students’ Union in the UK.

Throughout 2025, the Students’ Union continued to help students find their people and feel a sense of belonging:

•  Over 2,500 students joined a society or sports club, engaging with 75 active societies, more than 30 sports clubs, and creating over 20 new student-led groups.
• Five community groups supported a sense of belonging for more than 6,800 students across the university.

The academic experience was also strengthened:

• Supporting over 1,845 student representatives across all campuses.
• More than 240 student voice meetings were held, with over 2,500 students taking part in feedback events.
• Engagement was further improved through the expansion of the online feedback platform, making it easier and more accessible for students to have their say.

Students were given opportunities to develop skills and gain recognition:

• We helped students take over 400 Add+Vantage modules.
• Supported 779 students, who took part in skills activities, from Phoenix+ to community volunteering. 
• Student achievements were celebrated across seven award ceremonies, recognising more than 100 individuals.

The Advice Service continued to support students through challenging times:

• By responding to nearly 4,000 enquiries and providing one-to-one casework support in 962 cases.
• 70% of enquiries were resolved through our triage team.
• The service secured over £398,000 in financial gains for students.
• 282 students were supported to access a secure source of food.
• Supported students wellbeing by working with 34 local services and organisations to provide students with specialist support on campus.

We continued to provide new opportunities to generate sustainable income for the SU through our trading arm.

•  Our four outlets continued to deliver ethically sourced, high-quality food and drinks at a lower price than other outlets on campus.
•  We secured 14 part-time job opportunities for students within our facilities.
• For the first time, we also generated over £1 million in turnover, which has been reinvested into supporting the student experience.

Student engagement continued to drive change throughout the year:

• Over 4,600 enquiries were handled at the welcome desk, with more than 1,000 students signposted to the Advice Service.
• Your SU supported over 1,000 items via the online feedback platform.
• We helped over 200 activity requests across all locations.

Behind the scenes, students and staff played a vital role in delivering this work:

• Students undertook over 4,000 paid shifts, gaining valuable skills and experiences.
• Staff surveys showed high levels of satisfaction, with 95% saying the Students’ Union is a good place to work.

In 2026, we will continue to create communities, provide support, develop skills, and make students feel at home at the Coventry University group, no matter where they study. There will be new opportunities and new challenges, but we’ll face them head-on whilst keeping our values of being inclusive, helpful and ethical at the core of everything we do.

We’re committed to helping students fulfil their potential, and we’re excited to have you on the journey with us throughout 2026 and beyond.