THE UNIVERSITY

OF SHEFFIELD
UNION OF
STUDENTS
ANNUAL REPORT
2009
Our Strategic Plan
VISION 2012
ONE VISION
> To be the outstanding student-led organisation in the UK
THREE KEY THEMES
> We will be driven by students, supported by staff
> We will be more than a building
> We will have a landmark new building
EIGHT STRATEGIC GOALS
We will:
> Build a culture which encourages new ideas and captures the
energy of our students and staff to create an innovative and
responsive Students’ Union.
> Embed democracy at the heart of the Union; valued by all our
students and staff.
> Create a positive and high performance culture, where staff
enjoy working and their potential is realised so that they
contribute fully to our success.
> Champion student interests, providing them with a strong
effective voice by supporting and empowering them, collectively
and individually.
> Have student recognition of their membership of the Union, its
value and the benefit of contributing to and participating in it.
> Develop extensive opportunities for students to connect with the
Union, contact each other and build communities anywhere, 24
hours a day, 7 days a week.
> Develop a vibrant building, providing excellent facilities, activities
and services, which is accessible, friendly and meets the
aspirations of all our members.
> Be at the forefront of environmental best practice, and
encourage and enable our members to do likewise.
This report can only provide some highlights of the extraordinary
range of activities that contribute to the Union’s success. Above all
other measures, it is the judgement of our members which is most
important and, in last year’s graduation survey, 96% said that we
added value to their lives at university. Our reputation reaches out
to prospective students too, with 53% saying that the Union is an
important factor in their choice of University.
We have long been regarded as the UK’s leading students’ union,
but we want to be even better. Our new three-year Strategic Plan,
‘Vision 2012’, was agreed during last year. We are now working on
its implementation, to realise our ambition “to be the outstanding
student-led organisation in the UK”, and we have established eight
project teams to work on each of our key strategic goals.
At the heart of our vision, is developing student engagement
beyond the already high levels that we enjoy. Democracy is central
to student engagement and I was particularly pleased that, with
the introduction of electronic voting alongside traditional ballot
boxes, an all-time record of 6,174 students voted in last year’s
Union Officer elections.
As I write this introduction, we are in the early stages of a major
redevelopment of the Union Building. The Students’ Union is much
more than a building, but the facilities we offer and the space for
student activities are tremendously important. We are grateful that
the University has chosen to invest £5million of its capital
allocation from HEFCE in this project, which will further enhance
our contribution to the student experience at Sheffield.
Paul Tobin
President, 2009/10
4/5

Advice and Support

The Student Advice Centre dealt with 16,173 enquiries, of which 5,948 were
referred to our team of specialist advisers. The Centre received re-accreditation
for the Community Legal Service Quality Mark, following an audit visit in which
eight areas of good practice were highlighted, including organisation and
management, meeting clients’ needs and commitment to quality.

‘Money Matters Week’ offered advice and fun early in the year, including a
handy guide and a chance to win a week’s worth of shopping. Run with the
University’s Financial Support Team, it resulted in increased traffic to the online
money planner, better awareness of financial support, and practical advice on
debt and hardship.

Students won more than £10,000 in deposit refunds as a result of action by

the Advice Centre. Many others were helped to secure repairs or be released from
housing contracts. Students were successfully represented with benefit claims,
including at tribunals, and many problems with student support assessments
were resolved.

Over 800 international students attended group sessions on the Post Study
Work scheme and many were individually advised on their options for working in
the UK. Around 200 students were helped with visa applications for their spouses
and children to join them in the UK, successfully overturning visa refusals.

A Housing Fair was the highlight of our ‘SmartMove’ campaign. Organised

by the Union’s Welfare Officer, with the Advice Centre and the University’s
Accommodation and Campus Services (ACS), the campaign provided advice and
information on accommodation choices.

Sexplored was relaunched, with a team of student volunteers and the support
of the University Health Service, promoting information on sexual health and
contraception. Widespread distribution of Chlamydia test kits formed part of a
year-long campaign to improve sexual health awareness.
16,173
enquiries
A new ‘exams campaign’ included an exam survival guide, a mini-site on the
Union website, revision tips and relaxation sessions. The Gallery in the Union
Building was transformed into a revision centre and we worked with ACS to
extend the campaign into residences for the first time.
£10,000
won in deposit refunds
Our support for international students is nationally recognised as a model
of best practice and our International Student Adviser, Jo Holliday, was seconded
to NUS to lead a Government-funded project on improving provision for
800+
attend Post Study
international students across UK students’ unions.
Work scheme briefings
6/7
Entertainments and events
242,000 customers attended Union events, including a brand
new Halloween spectacular, ‘Howl-A-Scream’. ‘Space’, on Fridays in
the Octagon, became the most successful club night the Union has
ever run, attracting 39,000 customers over 26 events.

Over 30 gigs were held during the year, in a new-style live

music programme which included the Seattle-based Fleet Foxes,
hip hop duo Dan le sac vs. Scroobius Pip, and modern English folk
band Bellowhead.

The ‘Sheffield Student Comedy Festival’ took place over three

days and attracted 500 students from around the country,
including groups such as the Cambridge Footlights. The festival
consisted of workshops, performances and a competition to find
the ‘Chortle Student Comedian of the Year’.

We formed a partnership with regional dance promoters

‘Danceworks’ and presented three dance shows, proving the
adaptability of our venues, utilising the Foundry as a intimate
space for contemporary arts.

We backed the new ‘Sheffield Music City’ initiative,

supporting local venue operators together with the Council in
delivering the ‘Tramlines’ music festival across the City Centre in
July. We hosted the ‘Tramlines Barbecue’ in the Interval garden,
with live hip-hop and DJs in the Raynor Lounge.

Our programme of political events expanded during the year,

with the Exchange and Politics Society working with other student
groups to deliver a series of events, with speakers including Jack
Straw and Eddie Izzard!

242,000
customers

500+
at our comedy festival

30+
live music gigs
8/9

17
successful appeals
Representation
Over 700 student Course Representatives were supported
by our Student Representation Co-ordinator, receiving regular
700
course representatives
newsletters and information to assist their work. 160 attended supported
training sessions and a new conference for Course Representatives
with speakers from the Union, University and NUS.

A ‘Rate my Personal Tutor’ campaign was launched by the

Union’s Education Committee and the University agreed to our
1st
PROGRESS ball
request to include a new section on tutorial support in the
annual student satisfaction survey.

We campaigned on rent levels in University accommodation,

producing a report on the issue, arising from which the
University established a review group and reduced planned
increases for 2009/10.

17 students were supported with successful academic

appeals by the Student Advice Centre, and advisers represented
over 30 students at student progress and disciplinary hearings.

We launched a ‘Books on Budget’ database on the Union

website to help students buy and sell second hand books. The
Union’s Education Officer and the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for
Teaching and Learning ran a discussion with Heads of
Department and Library staff on book purchases.

The University’s Personal Development Planning scheme

was reviewed with the Union, following points we raised. The
new Student Graduate Development Programme addresses the
issues, by providing a more tailored approach for different
departments and by involving personal tutors more effectively.

A ‘Proud to be Postgraduate’ campaign was organised by the

Union’s Postgraduate Taught and Research Students’ Committees,
to raise awareness of issues and get more postgraduate students
involved with the Union. The Postgraduate Taught Students
Committee worked with the University to improve induction
arrangements. Our Postgraduate Society, PROGRESS, organised
its first dinner and ball.
10/11

£117,000
raised for charities

1,310
volunteers

6th
successive win
Community engagement
We launched our new community strategy, setting out our
objectives for community engagement. We appointed two students as
‘Community Representatives’ to work with local residents in
developing positive community relations. Following the success of this
pilot scheme, we have appointed six representatives this year.

1,310 students and staff from 55 different departments were

placed in a wide range of community projects through
SheffieldVolunteering.

220 students were involved in co-ordinating charitable

fundraising activities and many more participated in the events. We
re-launched Raising And Giving (RAG) this year, to enhance fundraising
and we supported students to raise over £117,000 for good causes

183 organisations benefited from volunteers and services

provided by Sheffield Volunteering or funding from RAG. Local need
was agreed as the priority, with 85% of funds being donated to local or
regional causes.

Over 250 students volunteered to encourage pupils learning

and achievement in 34 schools across the city. as part of our
commitment to the city’s ‘Pledge for Success’ campaign, which aims to
raise educational standards across Sheffield.

We were delighted that volunteers’ efforts were recognised with

the High Sheriff of South Yorkshire, Giles Bloomer OBE, giving one of
just two awards during his year in office to Sheffield Volunteering.

SheffieldVolunteering won the ‘Volunteering Team of the Year’

award at the Higher Education Volunteering Awards; the 6th
successive year that the project has been recognised at this
prestigious event.
12/13
Activities
Our community-building activities programme in the
residences, which was launched in 2007, was developed further
to provide 444 events which were attended by 15,539 students.

Our award-winning improvised comedy troupe, Shrimps

organised the very first Sheffield Student Comedy Festival in
March, featuring 80 new comedians and raising £2,500 for
Sheffield MIND.

There were 10,286 participants in the 600 sessions

organised as part of our innovative ‘Give it a Go’ recreational
programme, ranging from Lacrosse to Indian Head Massage.

The Source recorded 15,815 enquiries on student activities,

a 20% year-on-year increase. Source staff helped to set up 49
new societies, bringing the total number of Union societies and
Working Committees to 247.

We were the first UK union to provide media convergence,

with the launch of ‘Forge Media’, bringing together our
fortnightly newspaper, online paper, radio and TV. The
combined media activities involved more than 400 students, an
increase of 33% on the previous year.

At the Guardian Student Media Awards, Paul Garbett was

nominated 'Sports Writer of the Year' 2008. Our student
newspaper, Forge Press, closely missed out on the top prize
when it was voted runner-up in the NUS ‘Students’ Union
Publication of the Year’.

Singers Society made it to the iTunes top 30 chart with

their version of Band Aid’s ‘Do They Know its Christmas?’, a
charity single produced with Forge Media.

The Cheerleading Stunt Squad took 1st place in the UK

Cheerleading Association National Championships.

Our Dance Society won the top 3 places in five categories in

15,539
attend community
their national competition; Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, Lyrical,
and Tap.
activities
The Guild of Change Ringers celebrated their 50th
anniversary with a range of events. On the actual anniversary,
9 October, four of the original members met to ring a quarter
£2,500
raised for MIND

10,286
peal of 1260 PB Minor and later in the year a celebratory dinner
brought together members from five decades.

‘Gave it a Go’
14/15

3,161
members

£33,000
external income
Sport

1,070
BUCS points
We supported 47 Sports Clubs involving 3,161 members.
44 teams played each week in the British University & College
Sports (BUCS) competitions. Our largest club was High Peaks
with 325 members.

Our clubs equalled their best season, finishing 21st in the

BUCS ranking. They gained 1,070 points from sporting
performances; the biggest points total ever for the University.
Best performances came from Table Tennis (99pts), Men’s
Lacrosse (80pts), Badminton (65pts), and Fencing (65pts).

The Men’s Lacrosse Club remained unbeaten all season,

scooping the league title and the overall British Universities’
Championships.

Developing participation is the main aim of our sports

strategy, through our partnership with the University. The
USport Intra Mural Leagues beat their target with 4,763
participants. 1,131 students participated in 22 sessions aimed at
engaging students in university accommodation in sport.

The Sheffield University v Sheffield Hallam ‘Varsity’

competition was drawn for the second successive year, with
23 points each. Over 3,000 people attended the Varsity Finals Day
at the Abbeydale Sports Club.

We retained the ‘Winter Varsity’ title for the fifth year in

succession. Over 450 people attended the Ski Village event and
more than 1,100 watched the Ice Hockey at Ice Sheffield.

Club Sport generated over £33,000 in external income for

sports clubs through partnerships and sponsorship, developing
its portfolio of commercial and non-commercial sports
partnerships. We continued to work with Sheffield United,
Sheffield Wednesday, Sheffield Sharks and Sheffield Steelers on
student promotions.
16/17

50%
increase for ‘New Leaf’

20.4%
increase in ‘Interval’
Commercial Services
Sales in our innovative ‘New Leaf’ salad outlet grew by
50%, beating budget by £38,334. New Leaf was developed in
£21,212
sales of Fairtrade
response to our members requests for more healthy eating clothing
options.

Evening food sales in our Interval Cafe Bar grew by

20.4% following the introduction of a new menu, revised in
response to student feedback.

Coffee Revolution’s campus turnover increased by 12%.

We completed the sale of our branch on Ecclesall Road early
in the year. When launched in 2001, Coffee Revolution was
unique in offering only Fairtrade beverages. We are pleased
that this is now common, but are constantly seeking to
improve our ethical offer.

Fairtrade clothing sold through our Studio Shop rose

from £9,581 in 2007/08 to £21,212 last year, an increase of
121%. The availability of ethical products was one of the
reasons for the further development of our relationship with
the Co-op, as a significant supplier to our main shop.

Our bars continued to operate well in a difficult

market. Sales of cask ale in the Interval grew by 27% and we
extended the range in Bar One to reintroduce cask products.
Bar One continued to be a focus for sports fans.

We also focused on efficiencies and improved

productivity. In our Venues we introduced the “£1000 club”,
for any staff member who took over £1000 on a shift, and in
the first year eight staff members were rewarded with Union
Gift Vouchers.

We played a leading role in the development of a new

national alcohol policy for students’ unions, in conjunction
with the NUS. This led us to further develop our own
responsible retailing policy, which was already seen as a best
practice model.
18/19 Income and Expenditure Account
2009 2008
Income £ £
University grant (subvention) 1,771,404 1,487,640
Commercial contribution 1,127,655 1,136,906
Interest receivable 50,089 79,122
Total available income 2,949,148 2,703,668

Finance Expenditure
Student focussed costs 1,086,101 1,109,392
The year to 31st July 2009 was the final one in the Union’s three year planning Operating and facilities costs 2,009,904 1,899,917
cycle and, in an approach agreed with the University, we planned deficits, 3,096,005 3,009,309
supported from our reserves, as we worked together to address the
challenges arising from the changing commercial environment. Outturn for the year (146,857) (305,641)
Budgeted outturn for the year (362,662) (210,234)
The original budget proposed a deficit of £362,662, but this was reforecast in
January 2009 to a deficit of £200,124. This reduced deficit, despite increasing
financial challenges, was partly due to an additional subvention of Commercial Services 2008/09
£135,000 from the University, but also as a result of savings implemented to Commercial services are run by the Union to give members the services they
minimise costs in the difficult trading market. want whilst offering value for money. The profits from these services are used to
fund other services and activities which could not be offered if the Union relied
The final result, a further reduced deficit of £146,857, was due to a number upon the University Grant alone. In 2008/09, the £1,127,655 commercial
of key factors, primarily in relation to control of costs and additional income in contribution represented 38% of available income, and is made up as shown
the non-commercial areas. Total expenditure across all areas was only 3% above below:
the previous year, despite a 5% increase on salaries (the final part of a three- Turnover Surplus
year national agreement) and significant increases in pension costs. £ £
Bars 4,406,888 1,024,262
The contribution from commercial services was just 0.8% short of the Catering 1,125,629 144,174
2007/08 result, with bars and entertainments still key footfall drivers. The Retail 1,543,069 351,189
impact of the Sheffield O2 Academy on the live music programme was Entertainments 1,198,399 (115,391)
significant, but some success was gained from smaller events aimed at a more Amusements 46,073 42,701
diverse audience. Retail services performed as expected and catering achieved Direct administration costs 2,528 (319,280)
a much improved contribution (following the sale of Coffee Revolution’s Total 8,322,586 1,127,655
Ecclesall Road branch and with Fusion Food and New Leaf established in their
second year of operation).
Other Financial Highlights
2009 2008
Staffing £ £
Total gross income 11,362,072 10,994,098
The Union employed 950 staff at the mid point of 2008/09, of which 209 were Trading turnover 9,540,579 9,427,336
on permanent contracts, making us one of the top 20 employers affiliated Net assets of the Union at the year end 1,936,562 2,083,419
to the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and Industry. During the year Net current assets of the Union at the year end 855,351 681,097
there were 526 vacancies which generated 3,306 enquiries. Unrestricted reserves at the year end 1,924,292 2,067,631
Total investment in buildings & equipment 203,802 1,010,097
We were pleased to receive re-accreditation with Investors In People last
year, and we have continued to develop in this area with the introduction of a
new performance management system. Our new Performance Development
Review (PDR) uses a web-based system for managers to evaluate staff
performance and training needs, both on achievement of objectives and on an
agreed framework of behavioural values.
OUR MISSION
> To act in the interests of all our members

OUR VISION
> To be the outstanding student-led organisation in the UK

OUR VALUES
> The active democratic involvement of our members
> Our members’ views to shape our decisions at every level
> Accountability to all our members
> The diversity of people
> Innovation and continual improvement
> Social, ethical and environmental responsibility
> Excellence in everything we do
> Our staff and volunteers and their personal development
> Offering good value for money
> A fun and vibrant Union
> Working in partnership with the University
> Providing a strong and independent voice for our members
> Our positive role within the wider student movement