Case Study: Unite Students - Energy and Environment Business Partner

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Case Study: Unite Students - Energy and Environment Business Partner

Posted on 28 January 2026

​​​​Our Client

Unite Students is the UK’s leading provider of purpose-built student accommodation, housing over 74,000 students across 25 university towns and cities. As a FTSE 100 business, Unite is committed to sustainability, inclusion and creating safe, vibrant environments for students to thrive.

The Background

Unite Students required an Energy and Environment Business Partner to help deliver its net-zero carbon strategy by 2030. The role demanded technical expertise in energy management, stakeholder engagement, and the ability to drive data-led improvements across a large, multi-site property portfolio.

Our Approach

Using our recruitment expertise, we delivered a thorough and targeted search solution.

  1. Delivering a tailored recruitment campaign with full market coverage

  2. Assessing candidates against technical and behavioural competencies

  3. Providing a shortlist with detailed candidate and interview insights

The Outcome

We placed a sustainability professional with a strong background in retrofit, compliance and stakeholder engagement. The appointment has strengthened Unite’s energy strategy and enhanced operational delivery across its national estate by delivering.

  1. Strategic Delivery: Supported net-zero roadmap through retrofit and energy efficiency initiatives.

  2. Operational Engagement: Embedded compliance and reporting across regional teams and suppliers.

  3. Stakeholder Collaboration: Built strong relationships across field operations, central support and development.

Why Us?

At Irwin and Colton, permanent recruitment is about more than filling roles; it’s about finding professionals who drive performance and align with your culture.

Our service is efficient, targeted and built on deep sector expertise. Whether you're hiring for a single role or building out a team, we bring clarity, confidence, and results.

For support, please contact us.​​

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