At Imperial College Union we have a new plan. It’s called Back to Basics, because that’s what we’re doing.
We’re going back to the reason why we’re here – to have a positive impact on the experiences and outcomes of all Imperial College students from all backgrounds.
We’ve done lots of listening over the last eighteen months. You told us what you liked and what you wanted to change.
Some of the things you told us include:
How much you value clubs and societies at Imperial
You love the traditions and history of the College
We need to improve our communication with you
You more want involvement in shaping what your Union does
We need to engage ALL Imperial students in what we do
We used your feedback to create our new plan. And we started making changes straight away.
Our mission is to make a positive impact on the experiences and outcomes of all Imperial College students from all backgrounds.
All the work we’re doing will ensure we can meet the aims of our plan.
April 2021
We negotiated a new funding model with the College. To ensure we can provide the services you care about the most. And that your needs are always top priority.
May 2021
We used your feedback to create our new plan. You helped shape what our aims should be and what activities we should focus on. Our plan was signed off by our trustees in May and will guide our activity for the next two years.
June 2021
We want Imperial College Union to be a fantastic place to work. In June we announced that all our student staff will be paid the London Living Wage. Because of our new funding model, we can now ensure all our student staff are paid fairly for the work they do.
October 2021
In the past our spaces have often been booked by external companies. This has meant students can’t use them. With our new funding arrangement with the College, we don’t need to hire out our spaces anymore. From now on, your events will always be our top priority.
October 2021
You’ve been asking for this for so long! Finally our Union Concert Hall has been improved and is waiting to host all your amazing events and activities. We can’t wait to see what you do with the space.
November 2021
The requirement to make money in our bars has made it hard for us to support smaller events and activities. We’ve had to say no to running events that won’t make a profit. But now, with our funding arrangement, our bars will be able to cater to all student events. Large and small, with no minimum bar spend!
December 2021
You told us you want to run more diverse events. We want to see greater numbers of students involved in student life at Imperial. Our new health and safety manager will help our CSPs do even more amazing work.
December 2021
Representing your needs to the College is our core purpose. We’re bringing in extra staff to ensure we support all Imperial Reps to do an amazing job on your behalf.
December 2021
We’ve moved our Helpdesk and will be extending our opening hours and service. You’ll get a fabulous welcome whenever you come to see us. And we’re always here to help answer any questions you have.
December 2021
In December more advisors will be joining our Advice Centre. Meaning you can get the advice and guidance you need at a time to suit you.
December 2021
We've made a lot of changes, but we're not done yet. What else do you want your Union to do for you?
For too long Union spaces haven’t been your spaces. But with our new plan that’s all about to change. So here is a gallery to remind you how lovely your spaces are. Make sure you pay them a visit!
One of our aims is about improving your academic and educational experience. We do this by advocating for all Imperial students. We’re here to help you lobby and campaign on the issues that matter most to you. If you care about it, we care about it.
Everything we do at the Union is designed around your needs. Some services we run for you, others we do in partnership. We’ve invested in the new Helpdesk and updated the Union Concert Hall as you told us this was important to you. Extra staff will now be on hand across our services to ensure you get an even better experience.
Imperial officers have been lobbying for change at the Union for many years. Your 2021/22 officer team has played a huge part in creating the future of your Union.
There are lots of ways you can get involved.
Hi to all of you – new and returning students. The Union is here to make sure you get the best possible experience at Imperial and that means focusing on the areas that matter most to you!
Continue readingOver the last year, we’ve done a lot of work looking at the services and support we provide and how we can improve what we do.
All this work culminated in us developing the Union’s new strategic plan and I’m really proud to have been part of the journey.
The last eighteen months have been tough for all of us. I know many of you are looking forward to getting back to a “normal” student life here at Imperial. And we are here to support you every step of the way.
There will be loads of events, activities and projects taking place this year for you to get involved with. All the work we are doing – such as improving the Union Concert Hall and increasing pay for our student staff - is designed to make sure students have an even better Imperial experience.
I hope to see many of you in the Union bars and spaces. The new funding arrangement we have with the College will make it much easier for you to access these spaces and run your own events. If you have an idea for an event or activity, just let us know and we’ll help you set it up.
Keep us updated on how you’re getting on – all your reps and elected officers are here to listen and help you on your way. If you’re not happy about something or want to see a change, tell us. It’s really important your voice gets heard.
Please come and say hi if you see the officers around campus, we are here for you 24/7 (well, almost!)
Thanks,
Lloyd
Union President
We've made a lot of changes, but we're not done yet. What else do you want your Union to do for you?