National awards recognition for Essex Sport and Accommodation Essex

The University of Essex is shortlisted in three categories of the 2023 CUBO Awards which recognise innovation and excellence in commercial and campus services at universities.

The CUBO Awards results are set to be unveiled in July at the official awards ceremony being held at the University of Glasgow.

Essex Sport has been shortlisted for not one, but two awards: 'Excellence in Student Sport Experience' and 'Innovation in Student Experience' for its work to promote student engagement with sport on our campuses.

Through a range of student-centred fan initiatives, such as the creation of a first of its type in the UK student-led supporters club called ‘The Tribe’, the Fan Engagement project has positioned sport at the heart of campus life.

This ground-breaking project introduced a wide range of engaging initiatives to enhance the spectator experience, foster friendships among students, and cultivate a sense of belonging. The efforts were rewarded with a total of 12,421 spectator attendances recorded across the season, including a record-breaking International Women's Day crowd of 1,505, who came together to support the University's elite basketball team, the Essex Rebels.

Accommodation Essex has earned a spot on the shortlist for 'Best Marketing Campaign' award.

The campaign's primary objective was to increase the number of returning students opting for official university accommodation. Through thorough audience research, Accommodation Essex identified the key factors that influenced students' decision-making process. Armed with this valuable insight, the marketing plan, activities, and media choices were carefully crafted to effectively differentiate the University's offerings from the competition. By infusing the campaign with personality and building trust, Accommodation Essex successfully surpassed its application target.

The nomination for Best Marketing Campaign recognises the exceptional work carried out by the ECS marketing team and Accommodation Essex, while also highlighting our ongoing commitment to delivering outstanding services to our student community. This campaign was met with enthusiasm and innovation by everyone involved which shines through in the output of work and results” Faith Grainger, Marketing Officer

“We are delighted that the first-year achievements of the Fan Engagement project have been recognised on a national level. To be nominated for two separate awards is a clear signal that the project is breaking new ground within the sector, and also highlights the huge strides we have taken in our quest to deliver an outstanding student experience through sport and boast the best student-fans in the country’ Shaun Conlon, Sports Development Manager.

“Through the Fan Engagement Project and the Returners Campaign, the University has demonstrated its ability to deliver outstanding experiences and effectively communicate its unique offer to students and prospective students.”

We are proud of our shortlisted projects and the contributions they make to enhancing the student experience at our university.

You can read more about the awards and other nominees online at bit.ly/CUBOshortlist