Major call for more overseas students

John Major’s call for more overseas students to be allowed into the UK to help boost Britain’s reputation abroad echoes a growing viewpoint, says Salford student accommodation provider Portergate.
Portergate chairman Anthony Jackson has witnessed the increasing support for more overseas students and the positive impact they can have on the UK’s education sector over the past 12 months.
And he has also seen at first hand the standing the UK’s universities hold in China during a trade mission to Shanghai.
In a Times Education interview former Tory Prime Minister Sir John said: “The return in hard cash, let alone goodwill for having the brightest and the best coming to spend some of their time in the British education system – particularly universities – is absolutely enormous.
“And if that means easing the position on visas and helping the position on grants and encouraging scholarships and making it easier for foreign students to come here, it is in the interests of my children and my children’s children that we develop that. And I think that is an absolutely key point to make.”
Earlier this year current Business Secretary Vince Cable announced plans to increase the number of overseas students in those universities by 20 per cent over the next five years – an extra 90,000 students.
The plan to attract even more students is part of a new International Education Strategy, which has revealed that the UK’s education export industry is worth a staggering £17.5 billion to the economy.
David Willetts, universities and science minister, backed the strategy, saying: “There are few sectors of the UK economy with the capacity to grow and generate export earnings as impressive as education.
“Our universities, colleges, awarding organisations and schools are recognised globally for their excellence.
“However, there is more that we can do to take advantage of this powerful reputation, and to seize the opportunities to stay ahead in the global race.”
The prize in winning that race is massive. The global education market is estimated to be worth $4.5 trillion annually.
The new international education strategy is designed to ensure British schools and universities make the most of it.
Portergate this year opened its 242-hotel-class hall of residence, Riverside House, a purpose-built accommodation building on the River Irwell close to the University of Salford and to Manchester city centre.
Riverside House is within walking distance of the university, which each year attracts more than 3,000 international students from more than 100 nations around the globe.
The company also has planning permission for a £18 million project in Preston, Lancashire, close to the city’s University of Central Lancashire campus, which also attracts thousands of international students every year.
Portergate continues to attract major interest from overseas investment with its boutique student living concept and has performed extremely well at trade shows in China.

Why student accommodation investments add up

Student property sales are set to break £2 billion in 2013, with overseas parties investing heavily, according to a report carried in the influential Estates Gazette.

It is the latest in a series of upbeat assessments of the sector, highlighted by the growing interest North West student accommodation provider Portergate is seeing in its portfolio.

Throughout the past 12 months a series of studies and reports have revealed that investing in quality student accommodation is becoming an increasingly popular choice.

Earlier this year top property expert Knight Frank released its forecast for the UK’s student accommodation sector. It predicted a 9.2% average blended investment return over the next 12 months.

Fellow property expert Savills also forecast growth. It said the student housing market has “proven a resilient and stable investment” during the downturn.

Its experts also highlighted the growing importance of overseas students, particularly from Asia, whose numbers have grown on average 8.5% over the last six years.

Portergate has sold 200 rooms in the 242-hotel-class hall of residence Riverside House, which opened its doors to students in September, in a purpose-built accommodation building on the River Irwell close to the University of Salford and to Manchester city centre.

The company has new student accommodation projects in the North West worth more than £20 million and has more than 500 en-suite bedrooms built, on site or with planning permission.

It continues to attract major interest from overseas investment with its boutique student living concept and has performed extremely well at investment trade shows in China.

Company chairman Anthony Jackson says: “We have sold a lot of rooms at Riverside House to overseas investors who see the enormous potential in the UK student investment market.

“With the economy growing in the UK we are now also seeing interest from individuals and groups looking for a guaranteed, high return for their money, especially when compared with traditional High Street saving rates.”

Portergate was one of the star exhibitors at the Overseas Property Investment Show in Shanghai in September, a major international event attracting 130,000 visitors and featuring hundreds of specialist exhibitors from 30 nations across the globe.

Anthony Jackson adds: “As the latest report highlights, the student accommodation sector is seeing continuing growth and is a real property success story in the UK.

“Overseas investors see the UK as a solid and strong place in which to invest their money and are excited by our plans and growing portfolio of developments.”

Riverside House is within walking distance of the University of Salford, which each year attracts more than 3,000 international students from more than 100 nations around the globe.

The company also has planning permission for a £18 million project in Preston, Lancashire, close to the city’s University of Central Lancashire campus.

For further information on Portergate, investment opportunities or to reserve accommodation, please call +44 (0) 844 245 2688 or visit www.portergatepropertymanagement.com

Portergate quality blueprint is the key for today’s students

The importance of quality and location to today’s students in their search for the right accommodation has been highlighted in a major new study of the UK sector by global property experts.

The report, by highly-respected property services company DTZ, also underlines the success of the approach taken by Salford student accommodation provider Portergate in its creation of the acclaimed Riverside House.

The DTZ Student Accommodation Tracker was launched at a major UK student accommodation conference organised by Property Week. And it provides quite an education for those involved in the sector.

Its main findings, as reported by the influential magazine, reveal that two-thirds of student housing is failing to meet the expectations of students.

Those studying outside London want to live in en-suite rooms, which are less than four years old and within a 10 minute walk of their university.

Portergate’s new Riverside House ticks all those boxes and is winning praise from letting experts, students and parents.

The well-designed student accommodation, within walking distance of the University of Salford, has attracted undergraduates from the UK and across the globe looking for the kind of boutique hotel facilities it has created why not try these out.

Students are being attracted to Riverside by the modern, secure facilities provided at the purpose-built development which offers 242 high-quality, en-suite bedrooms.

Portergate’s accommodation has been designed to the standards modern students – and their parents – now demand, as highlighted by the DTZ study.

Every apartment at Riverside House offers:

Fully-furnished living space
Fitted kitchen complete with appliances
Fully-furnished bedrooms
Broadband internet included in the rent

Portergate has new student accommodation projects in the North West worth more than £20 million and has more than 500 en-suite bedrooms built, on site or with planning permission.

DTZ says changing demand is leaving many cities with a stock of purpose built student accommodation that is no longer desirable and it says that demand remains strong for prime schemes.

For Anthony Jackson, chairman of Portergate, the DTZ report underlines his firm is taking the right approach to creating student accommodation for the 21st Century.

He says: “We’re building on the continuing success of Britain’s higher education sector and the growing demand today’s students – and their parents – have for purpose-built, quality accommodation. They are investing in their children’s future and so are we.”