Purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) provider, Homes for Students has welcomed a number of new appointments to support with its ongoing growth and future plans.
Rebecca Williams joins the team as Commercial Director, a new role designed to support further collaboration across internal teams and drive new initiatives that will ensure Homes for Students deliver market leading performance. Rebecca has held senior commercial positions in the sector for over ten years – including her most recent role at VervLife, the Build to Rent arm of Homes for Students.
Charlie Hunt also joins the company, and will be Homes for Students’ first Sustainability Manager. Charlie is a Research Scientist with considerable experience in designing Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) solutions for SMEs. Charlie will be responsible for championing sustainability within the business and build on the company’s existing ESG policy and framework.
“Rebecca and Charlie’s appointments represent a real step change for Homes for Students and a testament to the growing scale we have achieved over the past couple of years. Despite the challenges brought by the pandemic, our business continues to go from strength to strength.
“We are now managing more properties than ever before and have a responsibility to maintain the significant relationships we have established with our clients, the students that live with us and the world around us. As we turn a corner into our new normal, I am confident we have the right infrastructure and people in place to maintain our position as the leading independent PBSA provider.”
Kate Forester, Managing Director, Homes for Students
There have also been changes across the Executive Team in that earlier this year, Kate Forester has been appointed as Managing Director at Homes for Students, with her predecessor Graham Rogers moving to a new role as Group Executive Director, focused on new business developments opportunities. Kate has held senior positions within the business since its creation, including most recently as Chief Operating Officer, and now leads the Executive Team alongside Martin Corbett who remains Chief Executive Officer.
“This is an exciting time for our sector and Homes for Students has developed solid foundations, with a great energy around the team. With numbers due to study in the UK and live away from home only set to climb, the challenge to meet students’ needs, develop great relationships with property owners and universities has never been more critical.
“It’s widely reported that the property sector is one of the world’s biggest polluters, but it’s also the industry that’s world leading in terms of innovative solutions. Homes for Students has a real passion to be a force for good across the sector and we look forward to creating and leading transformation with the team, clients and students.”
Martin Corbett, Chief Executive Officer, Homes for Students
Homes for Students is the UK’s largest independent PBSA provider, managing over 39,000 beds across 160 properties in over 51 UK towns and cities. Since its establishment in 2015, the company now employs over 700 people across its properties and two central service offices in Harrogate and Liverpool.
