Unitemps, the campus-based recruitment agency owned by the University of Warwick, has added Heriot-Watt University and the University of Gloucestershire to its growing network.

Both universities opened their Unitemps branches on Monday 4^th September, launching in time to support new and returning students for the 2023/24 academic year. This brings the total number of Unitemps franchises to eighteen, demonstrating Unitemps’ continued success in addressing key challenges across the UK higher education sector, from student experience and employability, through to finance and compliance.

Andy Walker, Unitemps Franchise Manager, commented on the expansion of the Unitemps network: “Unitemps is delighted that Heriot-Watt University and the University of Gloucestershire have chosen to join our network to help their students gain valuable work experience whilst studying. They become the 17th and 18th Unitemps franchises in the UK since the model was created and launched by the University of Warwick in 2010.

“Like many other Unitemps offices, Unitemps Heriot-Watt and Unitemps Gloucestershire will integrate within their Careers department to further enhance student experience and employability. As well as providing much needed financial support for students to help towards their studies and cost of living.

“Initially both branches will focus on roles within their campuses, but in the medium term will look to engage with businesses in Edinburgh and Gloucestershire to provide a wider selection of roles and also bring a revenue stream back into their universities.”

Heriot-Watt University, located in Edinburgh, is the second Scottish branch to join the network, following the launch of Unitemps University of Edinburgh in June 2020. In the short-term, Unitemps Heriot-Watt will recruit for campus-based vacancies, enabling students to secure flexible jobs on campus that work around their studies, at the same time as providing hiring managers with a 360-degree recruitment solution.

Campbell Powrie, Deputy Registrar and Head of Student Life at Heriot-Watt University, commented on the impact opening a Unitemps branch will have on the University: “Availability of suitable employment opportunities is extremely important to the student experience at Heriot-Watt University. Unitemps will provide student employment opportunities as well as significantly reduce the administrative load for hiring managers, leading to planned growth in the number of students employed within the University.”

University of Gloucestershire, based in Cheltenham, is looking forward to providing its diverse student population with jobs that suit their interests and skillset. As well as supporting internal departments at the University with their recruitment needs, Unitemps Gloucestershire will look to work with regional businesses to fill their vacancies with motivated and talented candidates.

Jo Evans, Head of Employability and Employer Engagement at the University of Gloucestershire, highlighted the importance of students being able to earn extra money at a time when living costs are high: “With the cost of living crisis, students need to work more than ever and we want to do that in a way that means they can successfully study at the same time.”

Jo went on to discuss the support Unitemps provides to students throughout their time at university and beyond: “Plus [Unitemps is also about] building those networks for when they graduate, perhaps leading onto graduate roles, perhaps staying in Gloucestershire with those graduate roles. So I think it’s a really important way to engage with our students and help them understand the benefits of the holistic nature of their experience at university.”

As well as benefiting Heriot-Watt and Gloucestershire students, expanding the Unitemps network will help students at other Unitemps branches too, including students at the University of Warwick. The two additional franchises will provide students with more locations to work from when they are not at university, for example over the summer and during other holiday periods.

Heriot-Watt University and the University of Gloucestershire join some of the UK’s top universities as part of the Unitemps network. Established by the University of Warwick in 1997, Unitemps enables thousands of students, graduates and professional jobseekers to find work every year, while supporting leading businesses to find the right candidates for their vacancies. All revenue earned by Unitemps is reinvested back into the network’s host universities and their facilities.

Learn more about Unitemps recruitment services on the Unitemps website and discover the benefits of opening a Unitemps franchise.