Back in April, we were delighted to welcome student and officer trustees from across the country to the University of Nottingham Students’ Union (UoNSU) for our annual student trustee networking event.
The event is now in its fourth year and is something we really value, and this year, it felt bigger, busier, and more impactful than ever.
The aim of our event has always been simple: create a space where trustees can build confidence, develop their leadership skills, and connect with others doing similar roles.
From the moment people arrived, there was a real energy in the room.
As one delegate put it, “the vibe in the room was so buzzy.” That sense of openness and enthusiasm carried through the entire day thanks to our lively delegates.
We don’t want student trustees to be an afterthought. We spent the day focusing on strengths, governance, policy, and networking to build confidence and skills but to also to show them their voice is key to decision making on trustee boards.
Double strength
We kicked things off with our strengths-based leadership session.
Delegates completed a strengths profile in advance, which meant we could dive straight into how those strengths show up in trustee roles.
It was great to see people engaging so openly with this, and the feedback both on the day and post reflected that. Many attendees highlighted this as one of the most useful parts of the day, while others talked about how it helped them think differently about their role on a board.
For us, this session is about more than just reflection, it’s about giving student and officer trustees practical tools they can actually use. Seeing those “lightbulb moments” in the room is always a highlight.
One of the things we try to do with this event is go beyond theory and show what governance looks like in practice.
Through conversations with our staff and trustees, as well as a look at how things work here at UoNSU, delegates got a real insight into how boards can operate effectively. One participant told us that “understanding other board structures was illuminating on what best practice could look like within our own context.”
That’s exactly what we hope for, giving people something tangible they can take back and adapt in their own student unions.
Understanding the bigger picture
Once again we were also really pleased to welcome Jim and Mack from Wonkhe, who have been and continue to be so supportive of our event, to deliver a session on the national higher education landscape.
This is always a key part of the day, helping student trustees step back and think strategically about the environment they’re operating in. Delegates described the session as “super-strategic” and “unique and helpful,” with one attendee saying that exploring the “state of the sector and problems facing higher education” was one of the most valuable takeaways.
For us, it’s so important that student trustees feel confident engaging with these bigger-picture conversations, and this session really helped bring that to life.
Making space for connection
Of course, a huge part of the day is simply bringing people together. Our speed networking and table discussions gave delegates the chance to meet others, swap experiences and ask questions in a relaxed, informal way.
We loved seeing those conversations happening, people sharing challenges, ideas and advice so openly. It’s exactly why we run the event, and why it continues to grow year on year.
Looking ahead
This year’s event felt like a real success. The combination of honest conversations, practical learning and a genuinely supportive atmosphere made it a valuable experience for everyone involved.
As one delegate summed it up: “It was great… I will definitely promote this to student trustees next year.”
That kind of feedback is exactly why we do this, and why we’re already excited about what comes next.
Spaces like this are rare across the sector. They’re an opportunity to bring together officers and volunteers in their trustee capacity to learn, share insights and build their peer networks.
These insights are then shared back at their home institutions and help to shape policy and direction moving forwards. We frequently hear from SU staff about the insights shared by their student trustees when they return from the event with new enthusiasm and ideas.
These are individuals who give up their time to give back to the student community in spaces that feel unknown or unfamiliar. We believe that recognising our student trustees for the value they add to the sector and their individual institutions is an obligation we have as staff in the sector.
We’re already starting to think about next year’s event, and we’d love to welcome even more student trustees into this growing network.
If you’re interested in joining us in November 2026, whether you’re a current student trustee or supporting someone in the role, make sure you don’t miss out.
Register your interest by completing our expression of interest form and be the first to hear when bookings open.
