The Unite Group

About The Unite Group

The Unite Group is a real estate operator. The Unite Group operates in London, United Kingdom (UK). Its investment focus is on Student Housing.

The Unite Group is a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) headquartered at the Welcome Building on Avon Street in Bristol, United Kingdom. Founded in 1991, the company operates as the UK's leading owner, manager, and developer of purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA). Guided by Chief Executive Officer Joe Lister, the firm employs a professional workforce of approximately 2,000 staff members to support its nationwide operations and institutional university partnerships. The company's operational framework focuses entirely on higher education infrastructure, delivering safe, high-quality, and sustainable living spaces for students. Its core service model encompasses site acquisition, planning, development, asset management, and direct-let or university-backed leasing operations. Through its primary consumer brand, Unite Students, alongside specialized integration portfolios, the firm collaborates closely with top-tier British universities to address regional student housing shortages via long-term nomination agreements and modern residential facilities. The group manages an extensive property portfolio across major UK university towns and cities. Following strategic portfolio refinement and the integration of the Empiric Student Property ("Hello Student") platform, the company is actively realigning its footprint toward top-tier research universities. Its current development pipeline features prominent urban regeneration schemes—including Hawthorne House in London and Central Quay in Glasgow—alongside multi-phase joint ventures with institutions such as Newcastle University and Manchester Metropolitan University.

Principals at The Unite Group